Bihar’s food safety drive has inspected 531 establishments across the state in three months, with cases registered against 15 outlets and the licences of two establishments suspended for violations, according to an official health department press release.
The special inspection campaign was launched on August 27 on the directions of the health department to ensure that consumers receive safe and quality food. The inspections covered hotels, restaurants, sweet shops, food manufacturing units, packaged drinking water plants and warehouses supplying food through online delivery platforms.
Patna recorded the highest number of inspections, with 87 establishments checked. It was followed by Rohtas with 41 inspections, Saran with 40, Gopalganj with 37, Siwan with 27 and Gaya with 26.
The inspections found violations involving food storage, kitchen hygiene, licensing and product safety. Officials reported that some hotels and restaurants were storing vegetarian and non-vegetarian food together, while others had expired or spoiled ingredients in their kitchens. Some establishments were also found stocking food products without expiry dates.
Several outlets were issued notices and given 14 days to rectify deficiencies. The department said stricter action was initiated in cases involving serious violations. The enforcement process covers not only the preparation of food inside restaurants but also the wider supply chain serving urban consumers, including manufacturing units, warehouses and online delivery networks.
In Patna, inspection teams seized and destroyed spoiled and foul-smelling paneer, sweets, adulterated milk, expired food items and other unsafe products. Officials also found establishments without adequate kitchen hygiene, safe storage practices, employees’ health certificates and water quality testing records.
At a restaurant on Budh Marg, officials destroyed 30kg of foul-smelling paneer and 4kg of rice. At another outlet on Fraser Road, insects were found in bread packets. Teams also seized and destroyed 20 litres of burnt cooking oil.
Officials stopped the use of 15kg of packaged chicken at one establishment and prohibited the use of 835 plastic glasses meant for industrial purposes at a KFC outlet on Boring Canal Road. The department’s account did not specify whether the establishments involved had completed corrective action after the inspections.
Packaged drinking water units in Sampatchak, Gaurichak and nearby areas were inspected for operating without valid licences and for irregularities in the use of brand labels. Certain units were ordered to stop operations, while samples were sent for laboratory testing.
The inspection findings show that food safety enforcement involves multiple points in the urban consumption chain, from kitchen storage and cooking practices to packaging, water quality, licensing and the distribution of food through delivery platforms. The department said the drive would continue to monitor compliance with food quality standards, safe storage practices, kitchen hygiene and licensing requirements.
Officials said violations may attract imprisonment of up to three months and fines of up to Rs 3 lakh under the relevant provisions. The department’s next steps are continued inspections, corrective notices, action against serious violations and laboratory testing of samples where required.
