UCKNOW, Oct. 14 -- The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has ordered production to stop at packaged drinking water units linked to 57 microbiologically unsafe samples detected during a statewide inspection drive conducted over a week. Another 146 samples failed to meet prescribed quality standards out of 242 tested across Uttar Pradesh.

In an order issued on Tuesday, FSDA commissioner Roshan Jacob directed officials to suspend the food licences of units linked to unsafe samples. Units found producing substandard water have been served improvement notices and asked to bring their products in line with prescribed standards.

Laboratory findings reportedly indicated the presence of potentially harmful contaminants, including E. col...