NEW DELHI: The Delhi government’s Food Safety Department has intensified its crackdown on food adulteration during the festive season, destroying a total of 922 kg of sweets, khoya and other food items following inspections at multiple locations across the national capital.
As part of the drive, food safety teams conducted surprise raids at 13 premises in Nihal Vihar, destroying around 402 kg of food items. In a separate operation at Mori Gate Khoya Mandi, officials disposed of another 520 kg of rotten and abandoned khoya and chhena.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta warned of strict action against those compromising food safety, saying, “Those who violate rules and play with public health will not be spared.”
During the inspections in Nihal Vihar, officials targeted several establishments, including unlicensed rasgulla manufacturing units, sweet-making facilities and retail sweet shops.
The teams destroyed 265 kg of rasgulla, 45 kg of chhena, 80 kg of milk cake and 12 kg of grated coconut. They also collected 14 samples for laboratory testing, including six samples of chhena, two each of milk cake and rasgulla, and one each of motichoor laddoo, besan laddoo, rasbhari and paneer.
According to the department, an earlier inspection drive on August 26 had faced difficulties after several shopkeepers shut their establishments, allowing officials to trace only three premises. To prevent similar disruptions, the latest raids were conducted on a holiday, with multiple teams simultaneously deployed across different lanes.
In a separate operation at Mori Gate Khoya Mandi, officials discovered 370 kg of khoya and 150 kg of chhena that had been abandoned and were found rotten and emitting a foul smell. The entire 520 kg of food items was destroyed on the spot, while three khoya samples were collected for testing.
The department said it had previously destroyed around 3,050 kg of khoya and paneer at the same market on September 4 during Janmashtami.
Officials said action would be initiated against the food business operators concerned under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, based on inspection findings and laboratory test reports. The department also confirmed that inspections would continue throughout the festive season to prevent the sale of adulterated and unsafe food products.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to food safety, CM Gupta said maintaining the purity of sweets was not only a legal obligation but also a responsibility towards public health and cultural traditions.
“Sweets are part of our tradition, faith and mutual affection. Ensuring their purity is not just a legal obligation but a serious responsibility linked to public health. No business operator will be allowed to risk people’s health for higher profits,” she said.