In the same week of October 2026, food safety authorities in two large states took action against packaged drinking water units. In Uttar Pradesh, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) ordered licence suspensions after 57 samples were found unsafe in laboratory tests. In Bihar, the Food Safety Department inspected five units in Patna, seized more than 15,000 litres of packaged water and stopped work at units found operating without a valid food licence.
Neither action changes the national rules. But both show what inspectors are checking right now, and what it costs a plant when a sample fails. This article sets out what was reported, and what a running plant should check.
Uttar Pradesh: 57 samples unsafe, licences suspended
According to reports in ETV Bharat, The Sandesh Wahak and Garima Times (all 14 October 2026), the UP FSDA collected 242 samples of packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water from manufacturing units during a special inspection drive. On testing:
- 57 samples were declared unsafe after failing microbiological tests. The reports name E. coli, coliform bacteria, yeast and mould as the contaminants found.
- 146 samples were declared substandard, meaning they did not meet one or more quality parameters.
- Unsafe samples came from units in 39 districts. Ghaziabad and Hapur had the most (four each), followed by Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ayodhya (three each). Chandauli had the highest number of substandard samples (12).
The order was signed by FSDA Commissioner Dr Roshan Jacob. For units with unsafe samples, the food licence is to be suspended and production stopped immediately. Production can restart only after the unit corrects the problem and five batches of 1,000 bottles each are tested and found to meet the standard. Units with substandard samples receive an improvement notice, get one week to correct the shortcomings, and must then have three batches tested. Assistant Commissioners (Food) are to verify the corrections physically, and units that fail to improve face legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
This order came alongside UP's separate decision of 14 October 2026 to make BIS certification compulsory for packaged water units in the state, which we covered in a separate article. Nationally, the BIS mark remains voluntary; see BIS no longer mandatory: FSSAI's high-risk rules explained.
Bihar: unlicensed units in Patna shut
On 14 October 2026, the Bihar Food Safety Department, acting on directions from Food Safety Commissioner Kumar Ravi, inspected five packaged water establishments in the Sampatchak, Sonagopalpur and Gaurichak areas of Patna (Amar Ujala, 14 October 2026; Patna Press, 15 October 2026). The reports say:
- A total of 15,340 litres of packaged drinking water, valued at about Rs 3.08 lakh, was seized.
- Several of the units were found operating without a valid food licence. One unit was closed and manufacturing was stopped at another.
- At one unit, water was reportedly being packed under labels and wrappers resembling the name of a well-known national brand.
- At another premises, bottles were reportedly being filled manually.
- Legal samples were sent to a food laboratory, and further action will depend on the results.
The department also asked consumers to check the manufacturer's name, food safety licence number and packaging details on the pack before buying.
The two actions side by side
| Point | Uttar Pradesh (FSDA) | Bihar (Food Safety Department, Patna) |
|---|---|---|
| Reported on | 14 October 2026 | 14-15 October 2026 |
| Trigger | Laboratory results of 242 samples from a statewide drive | Inspection of five establishments |
| Main findings | 57 unsafe (microbiological), 146 substandard | No valid food licence; look-alike labels; manual filling |
| Immediate action | Licence suspension and production stop (unsafe); improvement notice (substandard) | Stock seized (15,340 litres); unit closed / manufacturing stopped |
| Route back to production | Corrections, then 5 batches x 1,000 bottles (unsafe) or 3 batches (substandard) must pass | Depends on lab results and licensing |
What this means for water plant owners
- Microbiology is where plants fail. Every unsafe UP sample failed on microbes, not on minerals. Since 1 January 2026, FSSAI's Scheme of Testing already requires monthly microbiological testing of finished product. Our testing calendar for plant owners explains what to test and when.
- A failed sample means long downtime. In UP, a suspended unit must fix the cause and then clear five test batches before restarting. Testing your own output regularly is far cheaper than a production stop.
- Check your licence category and validity. Operating without a valid licence was the main finding in Patna. Packaged water is a high-risk food category, and the right category depends on turnover. See our FSSAI licence guide.
- Your label must be your own. Use your own registered brand name, your licence number and your correct address. Labels that resemble another brand attracted action in Patna.
- Keep the rest of the file current. Inspectors usually ask for groundwater and pollution board papers too: CGWA NOC and Pollution Control Board CTE/CTO. Our packaged drinking water plant licence checklist lists every approval.
How ClearPath Compliance India can help
We help packaged drinking water plants review their FSSAI licence, set up testing calendars and record formats, check labels, and keep CGWA and Pollution Control Board approvals current. If your unit has received an improvement notice or a suspension order, we can help you prepare the correction report and plan the re-testing. Contact us for a compliance review of your plant.
Need help with this for your plant? ClearPath handles BIS certification (IS 14543) for packaged drinking water end to end. Send us your plant details for a free requirement check.
This article is general information only, not legal advice. Rules and actions are as reported on the dates stated; check the original orders and your local food safety office before acting. Brand names are trademarks of their owners and are used for identification only. This article is not sponsored or endorsed by any brand named.