Think before you snack: Namkeens & dairy products top list of unsafe foods in Karnataka

BENGALURU: Think twice before reaching for your favourite namkeen or savoury/salted snacks. Namkeens such as boondi, sev, chips and chow chow mixture, along with dairy products, emerged as the most unsafe food items in Karnataka in 2025-26, according to the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA).

The findings came after the department analysed 35,639 food samples across the state, including 9,233 collected during 39 special drives conducted across different food categories and businesses.

Among the biggest concerns flagged by officials were brightly coloured namkeens and mixtures sold across the state. Out of 356 namkeen samples tested, 77 were declared unsafe, while 69 out of 274 mixture samples failed safety standards. According to FSDA officials, many of these snacks contained excessive synthetic colours which are used to make items more visually appealing.

“Most of these items were termed unsafe as they had used synthetic colours like sunset yellow and others to add the red or yellow colour to make it more attractive to consumers. Excessive consumption of these colours can lead to stomach and skin infections,” a senior official said.

Apart from snacks, spices too showed violations during inspections. The department analysed 631 samples of whole and powdered spices, of which 42 were found unsafe and 14 were categorised as substandard.

Dairy products another worry
Dairy products remained another major focus area for the department throughout the year amid growing concerns over the safety and quality of milk and paneer. In Hassan district’s Channarayapatna taluk, officials conducted a special drive on butter-selling outlets after noticing that many consumers were purchasing products marketed as “pure butter.” During the inspection, 13 butter samples were collected and analysed, of which nine were found to be substandard due to low fat content.

A similar inspection drive was carried out across 31 private dairies in Kolar district. Out of 48 milk samples studied, 18 were declared substandard because the fat content was below prescribed levels. In another large-scale drive conducted with the support of the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), officials analysed microbiological parameters in milk samples collected directly from dairy societies rather than packaged products sold in stores. In this inspection, 204 milk samples were found unsafe for consumption while 20 were categorised as substandard.

According to FSDA officials, milk fat content in some private dairies in Kolar and Channarayapatna was found to be as low as 3.85% to 3.9%, whereas it should ideally remain above 4%. Officials said this could happen for several reasons, including milk from Holstein Friesian (HF) cows naturally having lower fat content compared with Gir and Jersey breeds. However, authorities also suspect dilution of milk and urea adulteration in some cases. Legal action has been initiated against the violators, officials said.

Reuse of cooking oil
The department also intensified checks on the reuse of cooking oil in roadside eateries. During one such special drive, 99 roadside dhabas were inspected and fines of Rs 3.7 lakh were imposed against violators. Out of 153 used cooking oil samples analysed across the state, 15 were found unsafe while five were categorised as substandard.

390 outlets in trouble
Based on violations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, cases were filed against 390 food businesses in the court of the additional deputy commissioner and against 197 businesses in JMFC (Judicial Magistrate First Class) courts in 2025-26. The department imposed penalties amounting to Rs 77 lakh during the year.

Despite the violations, Karnataka also recorded major growth in the food business sector in 2025-26, with 3.83 lakh new food businesses being registered and licensed during the year, generating revenue of over Rs 25 crore for the state, according to officials.