Priyagold Biscuits, Dodla Dairy Milk Face FSSAI Prosecution Over Safety Violations

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has initiated legal proceedings for prosecution against three food companies over serious safety violations involving Priyagold biscuits, Dodla Dairy's full-cream milk and yellow raisins sold by Ueir Organic Foods. The action follows a consumer complaint, regulatory inspections and laboratory testing that identified concerns ranging from the use of bran intended for cattle feed to unsafe milk and excessive pesticide residues.

The companies facing prosecution are Surya Food & Agro, which manufactures Priyagold biscuits, Dodla Dairy Ltd and Ueir Organic Foods Pvt Ltd. FSSAI found cattle-feed bran being used as a fibre source in Priyagold biscuits during an inspection triggered by a consumer complaint. Officials also identified deficiencies in plant hygiene, pest control, raw material storage, segregation and personnel hygiene. The company's licence had previously been suspended following serious non-compliance.

In Dodla Dairy's case, a regulatory sample of full-cream milk was initially declared substandard because its fat content fell below prescribed specifications. Following the company's appeal, a Referral Food Laboratory confirmed that the sample was unsafe due to the presence of detergent/caustic soda and substandard because of insufficient milk fat. The competent authority sanctioned prosecution against the company and other food business operators associated with manufacturing and marketing the product.

Dodla Dairy is headquartered in Hyderabad, Telangana, and operates dairy processing facilities across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Incorporated in 1995, the company began commercial production in 1998 and markets products including milk, curd, ghee, paneer and ice cream.

Meanwhile, laboratory testing of yellow raisins sold by Ueir Organic Foods confirmed pesticide residues involving Thiamethoxam and Fluopyram metabolites above prescribed maximum limits. Following an appeal and referral laboratory analysis, FSSAI sanctioned prosecution for violations relating to unsafe food.

The regulator also issued notices to Sun Ridges Health Carers and Narpadham Foods over storage, hygiene and sanitation deficiencies. A separate notice was issued to Sha Kantilal and Jayantilal, seeking clarification about their business activities and why their licensed premises were closed during inspection.

FSSAI said enforcement against food businesses and e-commerce companies had intensified over the preceding six months, with updates shared through social media. The action falls under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The prosecution proceedings are not final convictions, and the reported findings relate to the specific products and samples examined.