Delhi’s food safety department has intensified its scrutiny of local markets, seizing over 322 kilograms of ghee following reports of quality concerns and potential labeling irregularities. The crackdown, announced on Friday by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, comes during the peak festive shopping season, a period when aggressive marketing and heavy discounts often attract a surge of consumer interest.
The inspections were primarily focused on retail establishments that had been promoting significant price cuts, including "Buy One, Get One Free" offers and discounts of up to 60 percent. According to official reports, the goal of these operations was to verify compliance with food safety regulations and to identify products that might be substandard, adulterated, or incorrectly labeled.
During targeted inspections at Maxcart Store and Aggarwal Store in west Delhi’s Vikaspuri, authorities collected five enforcement samples of ghee and other food items, resulting in the seizure of approximately 75.5 liters of ghee. A secondary operation at the Aggarwal Store located in Hastal village led to the seizure of an additional 246 kilograms of ghee. In this instance, samples were taken from various brands, including Shri Shan, Vrinda Farms, and Avtar, for further laboratory analysis.
The scope of the investigation extended beyond ghee, as officials flagged several other food products. At Sahib Sons in Azad Market, which operates under the trade name Vicon International, samples of sugar-boiled confectionery were collected due to suspected issues with labeling. Similar enforcement actions were carried out at other retail outlets, including the collection of makhana and turmeric powder samples from Jain Store in Lajpat Nagar, and various biscuits and candies from Yug Basket Private Limited in Rithala.
These seizures follow an earlier inspection drive conducted last week, which raised significant alarms regarding food quality in the capital. Data from that exercise indicated that 19 out of 59 samples of desi ghee tested were unfit for human consumption, while four others were categorized as substandard. Products were sampled from diverse markets, such as Laxmi Nagar, Preet Vihar, Tagore Garden, and Kondli, indicating a widespread issue that the administration is now working to address.
Beyond the concerns surrounding ghee, authorities have also encountered issues with other perishable goods. Investigations at various warehouses and dark stores revealed that frozen green peas, Greek yoghurt, soft drinks, and eggless brownies were being stocked for sale despite having surpassed their designated use-by dates.
Addressing the ongoing situation, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emphasized that the government has directed the food safety department to increase the frequency of monitoring at markets and storage facilities, particularly those associated with online delivery platforms. "The government’s objective is not merely to identify deficiencies, but also to ensure a system in which every family in Delhi has access to safe and quality food," Gupta stated, reiterating that public health and accountability remain the administration's top priorities.
While final laboratory results for the most recent seizures are still pending, the department has advised consumers to remain cautious when shopping for festive goods. Shoppers are strongly encouraged to scrutinize packaging for manufacturing and expiry dates. For those concerned about potential starch adulteration in ghee, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has suggested a simple home-testing method using iodine solution, though officials noted that this does not guarantee the complete absence of other contaminants. The government maintains that further legal action against the inspected establishments will be determined once the lab analysis is concluded.
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