New Delhi, Oct 25 The Delhi government’s Food Safety Department has destroyed 922 kg of adulterated food items during inspections at sweet-making units in Nihal Vihar and a khoya market in Mori Gate ahead of the festive season, officials said on Sunday.
The department destroyed 402 kg of food items, including rasgullas, chhena and milk cake, after inspecting 13 premises in Nihal Vihar. In a separate drive at Mori Gate Khoya Mandi, 520 kg of spoiled khoya and chhena were destroyed, while food samples were collected from both locations for laboratory testing.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the department had been directed to continue surprise inspections, regular monitoring and sample testing during the festive season.
“Action would be taken under the law against those violating food safety norms and putting public health at risk,” Gupta said.
The inspections were conducted as part of the government’s efforts to prevent the manufacture and sale of unsafe food items when demand for sweets rises during festivals.
In Nihal Vihar, the department destroyed 265 kg of rasgullas, 45 kg of chhena, 80 kg of milk cake and 12 kg of grated coconut. Fourteen samples of different food items, including rasgullas, chhena, milk cake, laddoos and paneer, were collected for testing.
The teams inspected unlicensed rasgulla-making units, other sweet manufacturers and sweet shops, examining hygiene practices and the conditions in which food items were prepared, handled and stored.
The department said surprise inspections were conducted on a holiday, with teams deployed simultaneously in different lanes to prevent establishments from receiving prior information about the operation.
During an earlier inspection in the area on August 26, officials had faced difficulties locating sweet-making units spread across different lanes, with only three premises identified as several sweet makers had shut their shops.
At Mori Gate Khoya Mandi, officials destroyed around 370 kg of khoya and 150 kg of chhena after finding the material abandoned, spoiled and emitting a foul smell. Three khoya samples were collected for laboratory testing.
An earlier drive at the same market on September 4, during Janmashtami, had led to the destruction of around 3,050 kg of khoya and paneer, the department said.
The department said further action against the concerned food business operators would be based on inspection findings and laboratory reports, wherever required, under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules framed under it.
(PTI News)
