Nepal’s quality watchdog has widened its investigation into contaminated food amid growing indications that toxic substances have entered food products sold in the market.

With the March election campaign in full swing, consumer rights activists warn that markets could be flooded with substandard goods as producers take advantage of lax monitoring during the politically busy period.

In the last fiscal year, the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control collected 3,394 food samples, of which 173 were found to be unfit for human consumption. During the same period, the department filed cases against 183 food and feed firms in various district courts and administrative offices.

Within the past month alone, the department has recalled five substandard food items from the market and initiated legal action against the producers. The recalled items include juice, processed drinking water and snack products.

Despite these actions, consumer rights activists say market inspections remain far from sufficient, noting that millions of food products continue to go unchecked, posing serious risks to public health.

Last Wednesday, the department ordered a recall of the NMR 107M1 batch of Hygen Ruhsh, a 200-ml mango drink, after laboratory tests showed it failed to meet government standards. The product is manufactured by Hygen Packs Nepal in Kamal Rural Municipality, Jhapa.

On the same day, authorities recalled the WC.330P batch of Royal Assam, a 500-gram tea product produced by Modern Tea Industries in Bhadrapur, Jhapa, after samples did not meet required standards.

Earlier, on January 9, the department ordered the recall of 61 batches of Ananda Water, processed drinking water sold in 20-litre jars, after tests showed substandard quality. The product is manufactured by Ananda Drinking Water Industry in Gulariya-5, Bardiya.

On the same day, the department ordered a recall of JM12 batch number of Raybot Refresh Fruit Drink, mango beverage produced by Raybot Spring’s Mineral Water, Daksinkali-1, Kathmandu.

In December last year, the department recalled three batches of Bhaleshwor, a mixed dalmoth snack produced by Mahalaxmi Dalmoth Industries in Chandragiri-12, Kathmandu, after samples failed quality tests. Authorities destroyed 102 sacks containing 25 packets each, valued at Rs519,600.

On December 17, samples of processed drinking water in 20-litre jars produced by Heritage Beverage in Changunarayan-2, Bhaktapur, were also found to be substandard.

The same month, the department recalled and destroyed Khajurico brand puff, a popular snack, after finding industrial trans-fat levels exceeding permissible limits. Some 5,200 packets were crushed and buried within the factory premises.

“In cases of substandard products, manufacturers can face up to six months’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of Rs300,000,” said Bal Kumari Sharma, spokesperson for the department. “As cases are filed with the district administrative office, the chief district officer concerned decides the action based on the severity.”

Once a recall order is issued, companies are required to recall the specified batch from the market and notify the department within a week, Sharma said. Food inspectors then visit the factory to oversee the destruction of the products brought back. Failure to comply can lead to additional legal action.

Substandard food items are those that fail to meet quality or safety standards, often due to reduced key ingredients, adulteration with inferior substances, or contamination with harmful bacteria, chemicals or toxins. While not always immediately fatal, such products can have serious long-term health impacts.

Consumer rights activists argue that the government’s focus on elections has weakened oversight, increasing the risk of adulterated and low-quality food entering the market.

“The department has not been able to conduct intensive market inspections, which has encouraged producers to neglect consumer health,” said Prem Lal Maharajan, president of the National Consumer Forum.

He said testing and recalling a few batches is not enough, noting that milk packets tied with rubber bands often go unchecked and that lentils and legumes are allegedly treated with pesticides to extend shelf life, practices that violate consumer interests.

Maharajan also claimed that long-grain basmati rice auctioned by India’s Food Corporation is being processed and sold in Nepal at inflated prices without adequate oversight.

“Because of limited capacity and negligence by the country’s quality watchdog, public health is being compromised,” he said.