Delhi’s Food Safety Department has intensified inspections across major food markets ahead of the festive season, destroying more than 2,800 kg of unsafe and abandoned food products, including khoya, chaap and butter.
The enforcement drive was conducted following directions from Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, who said the festive rush must not come at the expense of food safety.
“Festive preparations must not come at the cost of food safety. We will ensure that no unsafe or adulterated food reaches the people of Delhi,” Singh said, warning that strict action would be taken against those endangering public health.
Food safety teams inspected markets including Khoya Mandi, Mori Gate, Bagh Deewar, Sanjay Market and Janakpuri Mandi, focusing on suspected adulteration, unhygienic storage and the quality of food products being sold.
At Khoya Mandi, Mori Gate, Bagh Deewar and Sanjay Market, officials found approximately 2,830 kg of unclaimed khoya, chaap and butter stored in highly unhygienic conditions. The products were reportedly foul-smelling and showed signs of deterioration.
Officials made announcements asking traders to come forward and claim the products. With no one coming forward, the stock was confiscated and subsequently destroyed at the MCD dumping site at Majnu Ka Tila under provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Laboratory testing also raised concerns over the quality of products collected during the inspections. All 10 khoya and cream samples collected from Mori Gate were found to be non-conforming when tested at the State Laboratory.
Two enforcement samples of khoya were collected from the Bagh Deewar-Sanjay Market area. Separately, four samples—including two paneer and two khoya samples—were tested using the Food Safety Wheel and were found to be conforming.
Further checks at Janakpuri Mandi covered 10 food business premises, where officials collected 10 enforcement samples of paneer. The team also conducted spot analysis of 28 surveillance samples using the Food Safety Wheel.
Four of those samples tested positive for detergent, according to the Food Safety Department. As a precautionary measure, officials destroyed around 150 kg of paneer and 10 kg of khoya.
The Health Minister has directed the department to maintain heightened surveillance and continue intensive inspections throughout the festive season. Officials have been instructed to take prompt action whenever adulterated or unsafe food is detected.
The crackdown comes ahead of a period when demand for sweets, khoya, paneer, cream and other dairy-based ingredients typically rises sharply. Authorities have urged both consumers and food businesses to remain vigilant and ensure that only safe and compliant products enter the market.