In a significant move to ensure public health and safety, the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration has ordered the immediate closure of seven packaged drinking water units across the state. The action comes as part of an intensive, two-day special inspection drive conducted by the department on October 29 and 30. Officials targeted facilities to assess their adherence to health protocols, licensing mandates, and overall operational standards.
During the drive, inspection teams scrutinized a total of 102 packaged drinking water units. Beyond the seven outright closures, the authorities issued formal notices to 53 food business operators for various procedural and sanitary infractions. These violations included a lack of medical certificates for staff, missing pest control documentation, inadequate water analysis reports, and significant labelling defects.
The crackdown specifically highlighted units operating in unsafe conditions or lacking the required credentials. For instance, S.P. Food and Beverages in Hassan, Avanti Industries in Bengaluru Urban, and Sai Ram Food Beverages in Bidar were shuttered due to severe unhygienic conditions found on their premises. Similarly, other facilities such as Om Shakthi Minerals in Bengaluru Urban, Nandi Food and Beverages in Kalaburagi, and Dalia Beverages in Mysuru Rural were closed for operating without the mandatory licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Additionally, the Aqua Refresh Packaged Drinking Water Unit in Kalaburagi was shut down following reports of non-cooperation with the inspection teams during the investigation.
In a related enforcement action in the Bengaluru Rural district, officials seized 82 cases of one-litre packaged water bottles from M.S. Food and Beverages. Valued at approximately ₹7,380, the seizure was prompted by the discovery of labelling irregularities that did not meet regulatory requirements. Across the two days, authorities collected 69 water samples from various units, which have since been dispatched to government-run food laboratories to verify their quality and ensure they meet prescribed food safety standards.
The department’s inspection process was rigorous, with the second day alone accounting for 57 unit checks and 37 samples collected for testing. The officials involved have emphasized that these measures are critical to maintaining the integrity of the state’s drinking water supply chain. The Food Safety and Drug Administration has issued a clear warning to other operators in the industry: continued non-compliance will not be tolerated, and the state will pursue stringent legal action against any facility found violating the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.
As the administration moves forward, it has confirmed that the special inspection drive will continue throughout Karnataka. The goal remains to bring all packaged water suppliers into compliance with state and national food safety regulations. Consumers and industry stakeholders are expected to see heightened vigilance from food safety officers in the coming weeks as the government continues its drive to regulate the sector more effectively.
The results of the laboratory tests on the 69 collected samples are currently pending. Once available, these reports will determine whether further legal consequences or permanent closures will be necessary for the units currently under investigation. For now, the administration continues to monitor the market to prevent the distribution of potentially unsafe drinking water to the public.
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