Trader prosecuted under food safety law for supari found containing tobacco
Food safety officers sampled sugandhit supari from a trading firm's unit in Orai and filed a complaint that it contained tobacco. The accused sought quashing of the summons. The Allahabad High Court held supari is food and tobacco in food is punishable under the Food Safety and Standards Act, and dismissed the plea.
This page records what the cited court records say happened. Findings belong to the court or authority that made them; this register adds none of its own. Names of private individuals are withheld unless a naming gate clears them.
How we verify →The quashing plea was dismissed on 9 July 2024 and the food-safety prosecution continues before the trial court.
What happened
The High Court recorded that a Food Security Officer inspected the firm's manufacturing unit on 20.2.2020, found 370 packets of sugandhit supari in stock, and purchased four packets as samples, with one sample sent to the laboratory.
The High Court recorded that the food analyst reported the sample contained tobacco and lacked labelling particulars, and the complaint alleged violation of Regulation 2.3.4 and packaging and labelling regulations.
The High Court held that betel nut or supari is a primary food product and not a tobacco product, and that adding tobacco to it makes it unsafe food punishable under Section 59 of the 2006 Act.
The High Court dismissed the application, finding no illegality in the summons and warrant, and left the licence defence to be raised at the framing of charges.
What the record says
“2.3.4: Product not to contain any substance which may be injurious to health: Tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products.”
[name withheld] And Another vs State Of U.P. And Another, 2024:AHC:111824, para 21 — read the full text
No complaining victim
The prosecution punishes manufacturing and storing a chewing product with tobacco, an act of consensual production and sale with no complaining victim.
What we could not confirm
No 2025 or 2026 Uttar Pradesh COTPA or gutka judgment with an official source was found; this 9 July 2024 judgment was the most recent qualifying official record.