New Delhi, Oct. 20 -- The Delhi Food Safety Department has found hygiene and food-handling lapses at several sweet manufacturing units and outlets during inspections ahead of the festive season, collecting samples of khoya, barfi, rasbhari and other products for laboratory testing.
Inspections across the capital revealed pest activity, inadequate cleanliness, improper food storage and gaps in mandatory documentation. At some establishments, employees were also found handling food without gloves.
At Evergreen Sweet House in Okhla Phase-II, inspectors found signs of pest activity in the storage area, while the water testing report was unavailable. At Kali Ghata Sweets in Vidya Vihar (Hastsal), hygiene arrangements were found unsatisfactory at the manufacturing unit, while improvements were required at its Uttam Nagar outlet.
Inspections at Bhikaram Chandmal in Chandni Chowk and both manufacturing units of Aman Mithaiwala in Narela also revealed hygiene-related shortcomings. Samples of khoya, rasbhari, barfi and milk cake were collected.
The department also flagged lapses in FSSAI licence display, food-handler training and packaging documentation at Puri Baker and Bansiwala Sweets in Badli. At Singla Sweets in IP Extension, inspectors noted peeling ceiling plaster, grease accumulation on the exhaust system and improper segregation and labelling of frozen food items.
Samples were also collected from Grover Sweet Corner, Meethi Foods, Chaina Ram Sindhi
Halwai, Haldiram Marketing, Bikanerwala and Heera Sweets.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, "There will be no compromise on citizens' health amid festive celebrations."
She said food businesses must ensure compliance with hygiene, safe storage, employee training and food-handling requirements.
The department said further action would be taken based on laboratory test reports. The samples collected include khoya, boondi laddoos, kaju bites, pista barfi, kesar peda, almonds and peda.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.