New Delhi, Oct 20 As the festive season begins, the Delhi government’s food safety department has identified hygiene and food-handling violations at several sweet manufacturing units and outlets during inspections.
Samples of sweets and other food products have been collected for laboratory testing, as stated on Tuesday.
According to a statement, inspections revealed pest activity in storage areas, employees handling food without gloves, inadequate cleanliness and shortcomings in food storage and documentation at some establishments.
Samples of products, including khoya, barfi, rasmalai, boondi laddoos, and kaju bites, were collected from multiple locations throughout the city. Further action will be taken based on the results of the laboratory tests, officials noted.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emphasised that the government will not compromise on public health during the festive season.
“There will be no compromise on citizens’ health amid festive celebrations,” she said, stressing the need for food businesses to follow prescribed hygiene and safety standards.
During an inspection at the Kali Ghata Sweets manufacturing unit in the Vidya Vihar (Hastsal) Industrial Area, officials found unsatisfactory cleanliness and hygiene, it read.
Improvements were also required at its Uttam Nagar outlet. Four samples of kesar rasbhari, aloo bhujia, ghee, and palak boondi were collected from the two premises.
Inspections at Bhikaram Chandmal Private Limited in Chandni Chowk and both manufacturing units of Aman Mithaiwala in the Narela Industrial Complex also revealed shortcomings in hygiene and compliance with prescribed standards.
The statement further read that samples of khoya and rasbhari were collected from Bhikaram Chandmal, while barfi and milk cake samples were taken from Aman Mithaiwala.
At Evergreen Sweet House in Okhla Phase II, inspectors discovered signs of pest activity in the storage area. The establishment failed to provide a water testing report during the inspection, and employees were found handling food without gloves. Samples of boondi dana and khoya were collected.
The department also inspected Puri Baker and Bansiwala Sweets in the Badli Industrial Area, collecting samples of yellow rasmalai and fat emulsion used for cake preparation.
Lapses were noted in the display of FSSAI licenses, training of food handlers, and packaging-related documentation.
At Grover Sweet Corner in Naraina, overall hygiene was found satisfactory, but inspectors flagged open dustbins, employees’ clothing kept in the work area, and the absence of insect-proof mesh on windows. Water and product testing reports were also unavailable. Samples of khoya and boondi laddoos were collected.
At Singla Sweets in IP Extension, inspectors found peeling ceiling plaster, grease accumulation on the exhaust system and no insect-proof mesh on windows. Food stored in the freezer was not properly segregated or labelled. Samples of khoya and kaju bites were collected.
Meethi Foods in Naraina was found to have cobwebs on the chimney and inadequate measures to prevent pests from entering the premises.
Inspectors also found no designated space for employees to keep their personal belongings.
The manufacturing date was missing from the label on a prepared premix, and samples of kaju barfi and khajoor barfi were collected.
The department also collected samples of pista barfi and khoya from Chaina Ram Sindhi Halwai in Chandni Chowk, kesar peda from Haldiram Marketing on Mathura Road, almonds from Bikanerwala in Okhla and peda from Heera Sweets in the Patparganj Industrial Area.
Gupta stated that food businesses must take responsibility for maintaining hygiene, ensuring safe storage, training employees, and following proper food-handling practices, especially as demand for sweets increases during festivals.
She affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring consumers have access to safe and hygienic food.
(PTI News)
