The Delhi government's Food Safety Department has detected insects, signs of pest infestation and several hygiene-related violations at sweet manufacturing units across the national capital during inspections conducted ahead of the festive season.
The inspections revealed shortcomings ranging from the absence of insect-proof mesh on windows and improper food storage to open dustbins, grease-covered exhaust systems and employees handling food without gloves.
Officials collected samples of sweets and other food ingredients from several establishments for laboratory testing. Further action will be initiated based on the test results, the government said.
๐ฃ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฝ๐
At Evergreen Sweet House in Okhla Phase-II, inspectors detected signs of pest activity in the storage area. Employees were also found handling food without wearing gloves.
Samples of boondi dana and khoya were collected from the establishment for examination.
At Grover Sweet Corner and Meethi Foods in Naraina, and Singla Sweets in IP Extension, inspectors found that windows lacked insect-proof mesh, increasing the risk of contamination.
The inspection teams also identified inadequate arrangements for employees' personal belongings at certain manufacturing facilities.
At one unit in Naraina, there was no designated space for workers to store their belongings, while employees at another establishment were found keeping clothes inside the food preparation area.
๐ข๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฑ๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ถ๐ป๐, ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฏ๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฎ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
Officials reported additional hygiene deficiencies, including uncovered dustbins, accumulated grease on exhaust systems and cobwebs on chimneys.
Similar lapses were observed at the manufacturing units of Kali Ghata Sweets in the Vidya Vihar industrial area of Hastsal and Bhikaram Chandmal Private Limited in Chandni Chowk.
The inspections also revealed deficiencies in pest-control arrangements and the segregation and labelling of stored food products.
At some facilities, items kept in cold storage lacked proper identification or manufacturing dates, raising concerns about inventory management and food safety compliance.
๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด
At Puri Baker and Bansiwala Sweets in the Badli Industrial Area, officials identified shortcomings relating to the display of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licences, training of food handlers and packaging documentation.
Samples of yellow-coloured rasmalai and fat emulsion used in cake preparation were collected for laboratory analysis.
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.
The collection of samples does not itself establish that the products are unsafe or adulterated. Officials said further action would depend on laboratory findings and identified violations.
๐๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ณ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government was intensifying food safety inspections to ensure that consumers could purchase hygienic products during the festive season.
"The true joy of festivals lies in ensuring that every family can trust the hygiene and quality of the food it buys for its home," Gupta said.
She emphasised that food manufacturers and sellers must comply with prescribed standards relating to cleanliness, safe storage, employee training and food handling.
The Chief Minister said the government was committed to protecting public health and ensuring that consumers were not exposed to avoidable food safety risks during celebrations.
She also called for greater awareness and accountability among food business operators, stressing that adherence to hygiene requirements was essential to maintaining consumer confidence.
The department said inspections would support enforcement of food safety regulations, with further action against establishments to be determined after laboratory reports are received.