Delhi police bust fake protein supplement unit, one arrested

Delhi Police have busted an illegal unit manufacturing fake protein supplements in Rani Khera village in outer Delhi and arrested a 32-year-old man, officials said on Sunday.

The accused, identified as Naveen Kumar alias Banjara , a resident of Haryana, was apprehended following an ongoing probe into the circulation of spurious nutritional products. Earlier this month, police had arrested two individuals and seized around 150 kg of counterfeit supplements along with fake branding materials.

“ Acting on their disclosures, a raid was conducted and a clandestine unit involved in manufacturing fake supplements of reputed brands was unearthed ,” a senior police officer said. During the raid, authorities recovered sealed containers of counterfeit products, fake stickers, holograms, empty jars, raw materials such as maltodextrin and flavouring agents , manufacturing machines, and a QR code printer used to replicate genuine packaging.

Police said the accused used low-cost materials to produce fake supplements and supplied them in the market, cheating consumers and posing serious health risks .

The case highlights the continuing issue of food adulteration in India . According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, a significant proportion of food samples tested annually are found to be substandard or adulterated , with estimates in recent years suggesting 20-25% failure rates in various checks.

India regulates food safety under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which provides for strict penalties, including fines and imprisonment , for the manufacture and sale of unsafe food. Authorities have intensified enforcement and awareness efforts, but experts stress that greater vigilance and consumer awareness remain crucial to curb the growing menace of counterfeit and adulterated products.