Delhi food safety officials seized and destroyed around 7,000 kg of foul-smelling and spoiled khoya during a raid at the Mori Gate khoya market on Tuesday, while preliminary checks found 35 of 44 surveillance samples had failed. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inspected the action at the market, where authorities also found indications of milk powder, vegetable fat and binding substances in the khoya.
The enforcement drive was conducted by the Food Safety Department as part of ongoing checks against adulterated food during the festival season. The department collected 44 surveillance samples from the Mori Gate market and tested them initially using a food safety testing vehicle. Two additional samples were sent to a laboratory for detailed examination.
The preliminary findings raise concerns about the composition and safety of khoya being sold through one of Delhi’s established dairy-product markets. The source report said the seized material was not only spoiled but also emitted a foul odour. The department arranged for the entire seized quantity to be destroyed, preventing it from entering the retail supply chain.
The action also included checks on desi ghee. Of 59 ghee samples examined by the Food Safety Department, 19 were found to be unsafe for human consumption and four did not meet prescribed quality standards. In separate raids conducted on October 29 in Bhogal, Najafgarh and Shiv Vihar, officials seized 948.9 litres of ghee and sent 15 samples to a laboratory. The final reports for those samples were not available in the supplied report.
The Mori Gate operation was the department’s fourth campaign at the market. Earlier actions resulted in the destruction of 2,830 kg of khoya on September 4, 610 kg on September 8 and 520 kg on October 23. With the latest seizure, the total quantity of khoya destroyed at the market has reached 10,660 kg.
The wider enforcement figures show the scale of the department’s recent monitoring activity. Over the past two months, officials conducted 30 campaigns and examined 290 food samples. Of these, 85 were found to be unsafe or below prescribed quality standards. More than 4,000 kg of food material was destroyed during the period.
The repeated action at Mori Gate places the market’s oversight system under continued scrutiny, particularly during periods when demand for khoya, ghee and other festive foods rises. The department’s preliminary tests identify samples requiring action, while laboratory reports will determine the final status of samples sent for detailed examination.
Gupta said Delhi would have no place for those who put consumers at risk during festivals and that strict legal action would be taken against adulterators, regardless of their influence. She directed officials to continue the campaign and prevent suspicious food products from reaching the market. Further enforcement drives and laboratory findings are expected to determine the next steps in the cases.
