Lucknow, Aug. 7 -- Acting on reports that wheat flour is likely being adulterated with soapstone (shailkhadi), rice powder and other substances, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has carried out a major enforcement drive against flour manufacturing units in Lucknow.

The three-day special campaign uncovered serious lapses in hygiene, storage and packaging practices, leading to the seizure of 5.5 tonnes of maida, destruction of 950 kg of insect-infested suji, and collection of 10 food samples for laboratory analysis.

The special operation was conducted from August 4 to August 6 after media reports and information gathered during previous enforcement drives suggested that adulteration of wheat flour with soapston...