Ahead of the upcoming festive season, the Delhi government’s Food Safety Department has initiated a comprehensive enforcement drive to monitor food quality and safety standards across the national capital. Recent inspections of various sweet manufacturing units and retail outlets have revealed several hygiene and food-handling lapses, raising significant concerns about the safety of products reaching consumers during this high-demand period.
Teams from the department conducted raids across diverse locations, including Chandni Chowk, Narela, Naraina, and Okhla. During these operations, inspectors documented numerous issues, ranging from inadequate cleanliness to substandard food storage practices. In some instances, officials reported the presence of insects and clear signs of pest activity within storage areas. Furthermore, some employees at various establishments were observed handling food products without the necessary protective equipment, such as gloves, directly violating standard sanitary protocols.
Beyond general cleanliness, the inspection teams identified systemic administrative failures. Many businesses were found lacking mandatory FSSAI licence displays, failing to provide adequate training to food handlers, or neglecting to maintain required testing records. Inconsistent labelling practices were also noted as a widespread concern across the inspected units. To address these findings, authorities have collected a variety of food samples, including khoya, rasbhari, barfi, milk cake, boondi laddoos, and kaju bites, all of which have been sent to laboratories for rigorous testing to ensure they meet health standards.
The current drive follows earlier findings from the Food Safety Department regarding the quality of desi ghee sold in local markets. On October 17, the Chief Minister’s Office reported that of 59 samples of desi ghee tested, 19 were declared unsafe, while four others failed to meet established food safety criteria. In total, more than 42 per cent of the ghee samples evaluated during that specific operation did not meet the required standards. These inspections also covered warehouses and dark stores operated by e-commerce and quick-commerce companies, where investigators discovered expired items, unhygienic conditions, and failure to maintain proper temperature controls for perishable goods.
Addressing the ongoing inspections, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta underscored the administration's commitment to public health. She stated that the government would not compromise on food quality and described any form of adulteration or negligence as unacceptable. The Chief Minister has issued strict directives to the Food Safety Department to intensify monitoring efforts, particularly targeting markets, storage facilities, and suppliers providing food through online digital platforms. The government reiterated that protecting the health of residents remains a top priority and that businesses must ensure accountability in their food trade practices.
The department has confirmed that further legal action against the non-compliant establishments will be determined based on the final reports received from the laboratory tests. As the festive season approaches—a time when the consumption of sweets traditionally peaks—the government's objective is to ensure that every family has access to safe, high-quality food products. Officials have indicated that they will continue to enforce food safety regulations strictly to ensure that any establishment found violating safety standards faces appropriate action under the law.
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