Section 274 of BNS : Section 274: Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale.

Explanation using Example

Example 1:

Ramesh runs a small dairy shop in a village in Maharashtra. To increase his profits, he starts adding water to the milk he sells. Over time, he also begins adding a harmful chemical preservative to prevent the diluted milk from spoiling quickly. One day, a customer falls ill after consuming the adulterated milk and reports it to the local health authorities. Upon investigation, it is found that Ramesh has been adulterating the milk with harmful substances. Under Section 274 of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Ramesh is charged with adulteration of food intended for sale. He faces imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to five thousand rupees, or both.

Example 2:

Sunita owns a popular street food stall in Delhi. To cut costs, she starts using a cheaper, low-quality oil that contains harmful chemicals for frying snacks. She is aware that the oil is not safe for consumption but continues to use it to save money. One day, several customers suffer from food poisoning after eating snacks from her stall. The food safety officers conduct a raid and find that Sunita has been using adulterated oil. Under Section 274 of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Sunita is prosecuted for adulterating food intended for sale. She could be sentenced to imprisonment for up to six months, fined up to five thousand rupees, or both.