Delhi’s Food Safety department has flagged hygiene and food-handling lapses at several sweet manufacturing units and outlets across the Capital ahead of the festive season, including pest activity in storage areas, missing water-testing records and employees handling food without gloves. Officials collected samples of khoya, barfi, rasbhari, laddoos and other products for laboratory testing.
The inspections covered establishments in West Delhi, Chandni Chowk, Narela, Okhla, Badli, Naraina, IP Extension, Mathura Road and Patparganj Industrial Area. The department said further action would be based on the laboratory test reports.
At Kali Ghata Sweets’ manufacturing unit in the Vidya Vihar (Hastsal) Industrial Area, inspectors found unsatisfactory hygiene and cleanliness. Improvements were also required at the company’s Uttam Nagar outlet. Four samples — kesar rasbhari, aloo bhujia, ghee and palak boondi — were collected from the two premises.
Inspectors reported hygiene and cleanliness shortcomings at Bhikaram Chandmal Private Limited in Chandni Chowk and collected samples of khoya and rasbhari. Both manufacturing units of Aman Mithaiwala in the Narela Industrial Complex were also found to have compliance deficiencies, with samples of barfi and milk cake taken for testing.
At Evergreen Sweet House in Okhla Phase-II, officials found signs of pest activity in the storage area. The establishment could not produce its water-testing report, while employees were found handling food without gloves. Samples of boondi dana and khoya were collected.
Inspections at Puri Baker and Bansiwala Sweets in the Badli Industrial Area identified deficiencies involving the display of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India licences, food-handler training and packaging documentation. Officials collected samples of yellow-coloured rasmalai and the fat emulsion used in cake preparation.
At Grover Sweet Corner in Naraina, general hygiene was found to be satisfactory, but inspectors noted open dustbins, employees’ clothes stored in the work area and a lack of insect-proof mesh on windows. Water and product testing reports were unavailable, and samples of khoya and boondi laddoos were collected.
Singla Sweets in IP Extension was flagged for peeling ceiling plaster, missing insect-proof mesh and grease accumulation on the exhaust system. Inspectors also found that food stored in the freezer was not properly segregated and labelled. Samples of khoya and kaju bites were taken.
At Meethi Foods in Naraina, officials found cobwebs on the chimney, inadequate measures to prevent pest entry and no designated space for employees’ personal belongings. A prepared premix did not carry its manufacturing date. 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.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government would not compromise on public health during the festive season, when demand for sweets and other food products typically rises. She said food businesses must maintain hygiene, ensure safe storage, train employees and follow prescribed food-handling practices. The department’s next action will depend on the laboratory findings from the collected samples.
