Ludhiana Dairy Samples Fail Quality Tests

In Ludhiana, a concerning trend has emerged as over 16% of collected dairy samples have failed quality tests during the period from January 2024 to February 2026. A total of 188 out of 1,164 samples were found to be substandard or unsafe, highlighting a significant public health concern.

The data reveals that paneer, a popular dairy product, exhibited the highest failure rate at 39.6%, making it the most adulterated item. Milk also showed a notable rate of non-compliance at 19%. While year-wise figures indicate a slight improvement, with failure rates decreasing from 19.1% in 2024 to 16.2% in 2025, and further dropping to 7.5% in early 2026, the overall situation remains a focus for health officials.

Health authorities are implementing strict measures, including on-the-spot challans for unhygienic operations and court cases for substandard food, with penalties reaching up to Rs 5 lakh. For products deemed unfit for consumption, fines can go up to Rs 10 lakh, coupled with imprisonment. A special food safety van campaign is scheduled from April 7 to April 21 to conduct on-the-spot testing and raise public awareness.