New Delhi, Nov. 7 -- The Delhi government's Food Safety Department has collected 40 food samples and issued improvement notices to eight establishments following inspections of sweet shops, dairies and food manufacturing units across five regions of the capital ahead of Diwali.

The campaign covered North-East, East, Shahdara, South and South-East Delhi, with officials checking food quality and compliance with prescribed hygiene standards. Nearly 100 kg of food material deemed unfit for human consumption was destroyed at a dairy in Mandoli Extension.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed the department to carry out regular inspections of food businesses and take action against establishments violating safety regulations. The government...