Gairsain, March 13 -- The Uttarakhand government informed the assembly on Thursday that about 11% of food samples tested in the state over the past three financial years 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 in Gairsain. In a written reply, health minister Dhan Singh Rawat said that of the 4,909 food samples collected for testing during 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 (till date), 524 samples (10.7%) were found to be substandard, unsafe or misbranded. BJP MLA from Doiwala Brij Bhushan Gairola alleged that effective action against adulteration was being hampered due to vacant posts of Food Safety Officers in the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA), Uttarakhand. Rawat said the FDA regularly inspects food business operators and collects samples during inspections based on suspicion. "After sample collection, cases are filed in competent courts for legal action against samples found to be substandard, unsafe or misbranded, based on the report issued by the food analyst," the minister said. According to the data shared by the minister, 1,627 samples were collected in 2023-24, of which 171 were found substandard, unsafe or misbranded. In 2024-25, 1,684 samples were collected and 159 failed the tests. In 2025-26 so far, 1,598 samples have been collected, of which 194 were found substandard, unsafe or misbranded. He added that a requisition has been sent to the (UKPSC) for direct recruitment to 28 vacant posts of Food Safety Officer. The minister said a Food Analysis Laboratory is being established in Dehradun and posts have been created for the facility....