Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s food safety department has launched surprise inspections at prominent restaurants and sweet shops ahead of Durga Puja, finding expired and unusable food products at several establishments, including Aminia and Ganguram, according to a report by Sanmarg – Kolkata. The seized material was destroyed at the spot during the inspections.
The campaign was conducted by a special team of KMC food safety officials across the city. The inspections focused on restaurants and sweet shops that are expected to see increased customer demand during Bengal’s biggest festival. The report said the team carried out sudden checks and searches rather than relying only on scheduled inspections.
The action comes as Kolkata prepares for the festival period, when restaurants, confectioneries and other food outlets typically handle a sharp increase in customer traffic. The discovery of expired food during the inspections has again brought attention to the role of municipal enforcement in protecting consumers across a large and busy food-service network.
Sanmarg reported that the KMC food safety department recovered substantial quantities of expired food and products that were no longer fit for consumption from several well-known establishments. These products were destroyed during the operation. The report did not specify the quantities seized, the individual items involved or whether penalties were imposed on each establishment.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the state food safety department have adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards adulteration and unhygienic food during the festive season, the report said. Their stated focus includes preventing the sale or serving of contaminated, adulterated or otherwise unsafe food to residents and visitors.
The latest inspections follow similar enforcement action in Kolkata in which the licences of around 40 food establishments were cancelled for alleged illegal activities and unhygienic conditions. A list of those establishments was also released, according to the report. The available account does not identify whether any of the establishments inspected in the latest operation have had their licences suspended or cancelled.
Food safety enforcement in the city involves more than checking the condition of food at the point of sale. Inspections also test how restaurants and sweet shops store ingredients, manage expiry dates and maintain hygiene in kitchens and preparation areas. In practice, the effectiveness of the system depends on whether violations are detected consistently and whether action continues after the festival period.
The KMC has said that surprise inspections against adulteration and unhygienic food will continue across Kolkata during the festival days. Further details on penalties, additional seizures or licence action are expected to emerge as the enforcement campaign proceeds.
