LUCKNOW, Oct. 11 -- The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (UPFSDA) seized 20,924 kg of food items worth Rs.66.87 lakh during a statewide crackdown ahead of Navratri over suspected food safety violations, including unhygienic storage, alleged adulteration and misbranding.

The drive under the 'Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai' campaign, which continued until late on October 9, also led to the collection of 176 food samples and the destruction of 4,273 kg of food items worth Rs.63,900 deemed unfit for human consumption.

The inspections covered ghee, edible oil, vanaspati, buckwheat (kuttu) and water chestnut (singhara) flour, sabudana and spices. Officials issued 58 corrective notices, while proceedings to suspend two food business lice...