Ludhiana, Oct. 14 -- With the festive season approaching, the health department has intensified food sampling across Ludhiana, focusing on milk products, khoya, paneer, sweets and ghee to detect adulteration and curb the sale of substandard and unsafe food. The drive involves inspections of sweet shops and other food establishments, with particular attention to areas where complaints of food adulteration have been received.

District health officer (DHO) Ashish Chawla said the department routinely collects food samples and sends them to the food and drug administration laboratory in Kharar for testing. Reports generally arrive within 10 to 14 days, following which legal action is initiated against businesses found violating food safety no...