Delhi authorities seized 948.9 litres of suspected substandard and adulterated ghee during raids at three city locations, while the government announced plans to modernise the Food Safety Department and expand its enforcement staff. The action was carried out as part of a citywide crackdown during the festive season, officials said.
Food safety teams conducted raids on Wednesday at Bhogal Market in southeast Delhi, Najafgarh Market in southwest Delhi and Shiv Vihar in northeast Delhi. The department seized 389.9 litres of ghee from Bhogal Market and 338 litres from Najafgarh Market, according to a Delhi government statement.
A further 221 litres of suspected adulterated ghee was seized at Shiv Vihar during a joint operation involving the Food Safety Department and Delhi Police. Authorities also collected 15 samples from two markets and sent them to a laboratory for testing. Further action will depend on the test findings, the government said.
The seizures have placed the capacity of Delhi’s food safety enforcement system at the centre of the government’s response. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the Food Safety Department would be modernised and its staff strength increased to enable faster inspections and enforcement. She said the inspection system was being equipped with modern technology to support timely action against irregularities.
Gupta also said personnel could be drawn from other government departments, if required, to expand monitoring. The proposed staffing and technology measures were announced alongside a decision to continue the anti-adulteration campaign throughout the year rather than restrict it to the festive season.
The Chief Minister said action would be taken against all those involved in adulteration, including branded companies, and announced plans for an intensive public awareness campaign. The statement did not specify the additional number of personnel to be appointed, the technology to be deployed or the timeline for the department’s modernisation.
For consumers, the immediate outcome of the raids will depend on laboratory results and the enforcement action that follows. The seized material remains subject to testing, and the government has not disclosed the identities of the establishments involved or the status of any prosecutions in connection with the seizures.
Residents can report complaints about food adulteration, poor-quality food or the sale of expired products through the Food Safety Department’s helpline, 1800-11-3921, during office hours. The government said the inspection drive and public awareness campaign would continue beyond the current festive-season operation.
