Bhubaneswar, Aug. 29 -- In a major food safety crackdown ahead of the festive season, authorities in Odisha have destroyed more than 3.6 tonnes of stale sweets and other unsafe food products during a three-day enforcement drive.

According to sources, the state food safety wing conducted the operation from August 25 to 27 across all 30 districts and six municipal corporation areas, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Puri, Sambalpur and Berhampur.

According to officials, enforcement teams seized and disposed of 3,605 kg of stale sweets and other food items found unfit for consumption. The teams also collected 475 samples for laboratory testing to determine whether they met prescribed safety standards.

During the statewide operatio...