Delhi food safety inspections at sweet manufacturers and related establishments have found lapses in hygiene, cleanliness, food storage and prescribed food-handling practices ahead of the festive season, the Chief Minister’s Office said on October 20.
The Food Safety Department conducted inspections across the capital as demand for sweets and other food products rises during festivals. Departmental teams also collected food samples from various establishments as part of enforcement and surveillance activities.
The inspections covered sweet shops and related units in Chandni Chowk, Naraina, Okhla and Narela, according to the Delhi Government. The CMO did not provide a consolidated figure for the number of establishments inspected or specify the individual units where violations were found.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the Government would not compromise on citizens’ health during festive celebrations. “There will be no compromise on citizens’ health amid festive celebrations,” she said, adding that the Government’s citizen-centric approach placed public health, safety and welfare at its core.
The Chief Minister said the increased seasonal demand for sweets made compliance with prescribed hygiene standards during manufacture, storage and sale particularly important. She said residents should be able to trust the hygiene and quality of the food purchased for their families during the festive period.
The Government also said that 19 of 59 ghee samples tested were found to be “unsafe for human consumption”. The statement did not specify the establishments from which the samples were collected, the dates of testing, the substances or conditions that led to the classification, or the action taken against the businesses concerned.
Ms. Gupta said all establishments engaged in the food business must take responsibility for complying with rules governing hygiene, safe storage, employee training and proper food-handling practices. She described food-quality violations and the endangering of public health through adulteration as unacceptable.
“The government is committed to ensuring that citizens have access to safe and hygienic food and that no one’s health is compromised amid festive celebrations,” she said. “Awareness, accountability and compliance with prescribed standards are essential to protecting public interest and public health.”
The inspections form part of the department’s enforcement and surveillance activity during the festive season. The Government’s next steps, including the outcome of the collected food samples and any action against units found violating food-safety requirements, were not detailed in the statement.
