'Health of Delhiites Will Not Be Compromised': CM Rekha Gupta
CM Rekha Gupta orders a massive crackdown on food safety in Delhi after 42% of desi ghee samples failed quality tests.
In a major crackdown to protect public health, the Food Safety Department has launched an extensive enforcement drive across the national capital. Following strict directions from Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, officials have targeted warehouses, retail markets, and the rapidly growing network of dark stores operated by e-commerce and quick-commerce companies to ensure food quality standards are being met.
Shocking Findings in Desi Ghee Tests
One of the most alarming revelations of the drive came from the testing of desi ghee. The department collected 59 samples of various desi ghee brands from multiple markets across the city, including Naharpur, Posangipur, Laxmi Nagar, Preet Vihar, Rampura, Tagore Garden, Kalyanpuri, Krishna Vihar, and Kondli.
The results were startling:
- 19 samples were found to be completely unsafe for consumption.
- 4 samples failed to meet the basic food safety standards.
- Overall, more than 42 per cent of the tested samples did not meet the required quality benchmarks.
Quick-Commerce and Warehouses Under Scanner
The enforcement drive didn't stop at retail shops. Officials conducted rigorous inspections of food storage facilities used by retail and quick-commerce platforms. These "dark stores," which facilitate lightning-fast deliveries, were found to be lacking in several critical areas.
During these raids, inspectors discovered a series of hygiene and safety violations, including:
- The presence of expired food products being stored for sale.
- Infestations of pests within storage areas.
- Generally unhygienic storage conditions.
- Failure to maintain the prescribed cold-storage temperatures, which is vital for food preservation.
- Damaged packaging and irregularities in product labelling.
Government Takes a Hard Line
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has made it clear that the government will have zero tolerance for those risking public health. Expressing her outrage over the findings, the Chief Minister stated, "Compromising on food quality or endangering people’s health through adulteration is unacceptable under any circumstances. The health of Delhiites will not be compromised."
Next Steps and Accountability
The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) confirmed on Saturday that action is being taken against the offending establishments based on the identified deficiencies. The Food Safety Department has already issued improvement notices to several facilities.
To prevent future lapses, CM Rekha Gupta has directed the department to significantly strengthen the monitoring of:
- Local markets.
- Food storage warehouses.
- Establishments supplying food products via online platforms.
The Delhi government emphasized that its primary objective is to ensure every family in the city has access to safe, high-quality food, maintaining that accountability in the food trade is a top priority for the administration.