India, March 12 -- The Government of Uttarakhand on Thursday informed the state assembly that 524 out of 4,909 food samples collected (10.7%) for testing over the past three financial years (2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 till date) were found to be substandard, unsafe or misbranded.

The issue of food adulteration was raised during Question Hour on the fourth day of the budget session of the state assembly in Gairsain.

Brij Bhushan Gairola, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Doiwala, said effective action against those indulging in adulteration was being hampered due to vacant posts of Food Safety Officers in the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA).

Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat said in a written reply that the FDA conducts...