The Delhi Government has intensified inspections of sweet manufacturers and related food establishments ahead of the festive season after finding lapses in hygiene, cleanliness, food storage and prescribed food-handling practices at several units across the capital.
The Food Safety Department conducted inspections and collected food samples from establishments in areas including Chandni Chowk, Naraina, Okhla and Narela, the Chief Minister’s Office said on October 20. The inspections formed part of enforcement and surveillance activities carried out before the seasonal rise in demand for sweets and other food products.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government would not compromise on citizens’ health during the festive period. “There will be no compromise on citizens’ health amid festive celebrations,” she said, according to the CMO statement.
The inspections covered conditions linked to the manufacture, storage and sale of food. The government said several establishments had shortcomings in hygiene and cleanliness, as well as in food storage and food-handling practices. The material supplied does not identify the individual establishments inspected or specify the action taken against each unit.
The department also collected food samples for testing. The government separately reported that 19 of 59 ghee samples tested were found “unsafe for human consumption”. The supplied report does not provide the dates of collection, laboratory details, the establishments from which the samples were taken or the enforcement action connected to those results.
The findings come at a time when food businesses face a sharp increase in production and sales during festivals. The Chief Minister’s Office said this seasonal increase makes compliance with prescribed hygiene standards particularly important during manufacturing, storage and retail operations.
Ms. Gupta said establishments involved in the food business must take responsibility for complying with rules on hygiene, safe storage, employee training and proper food handling. She added that food-quality violations and any conduct that endangers public health through adulteration would not be acceptable.
The government’s statement placed responsibility on both the enforcement system and food businesses. While departmental inspections and sample collection provide the immediate mechanism for identifying violations, compliance also depends on establishments maintaining safe storage conditions, training workers and following prescribed handling procedures throughout the supply chain.
The Chief Minister said the government was committed to ensuring that citizens had access to safe and hygienic food during the festive season. The Food Safety Department’s inspections and sample-testing process are expected to continue as demand for sweets and other festive foods rises.
