Festive Fury: Delhi Destroys 922kg of Rotten Sweets in Massive Safety Crackdown
Delhi authorities destroy 922 kg of rotten khoya and sweets in a massive festive season crackdown to protect public health.
As the festive season kicks into high gear, the Delhi Government’s Food Safety Department has launched an aggressive offensive against food adulteration. In a series of high-stakes raids, officials have destroyed a staggering 922 kg of sweets, khoya, and other dairy products to prevent hazardous food from reaching dinner tables across the capital.
Surprise Raids in Nihal Vihar
The crackdown saw a strategic shift in tactics. Recalling a failed attempt on August 26—where shopkeepers had shuttered their stores to evade inspectors—the department this time executed surprise raids on a public holiday. By deploying teams simultaneously across multiple lanes, officials caught manufacturers off guard.
In Nihal Vihar alone, teams stormed 13 different premises, including sweet shops and unlicensed rasgulla manufacturing units. The operation resulted in the destruction of 402 kg of food items, including:
- Rasgulla: 265 kg
- Milk Cake: 80 kg
- Chhena: 45 kg
- Grated Coconut: 12 kg
Beyond the immediate destruction, the teams collected 14 samples for rigorous laboratory testing. These samples included various quantities of chhena, milk cake, rasgulla, paneer, and traditional favorites like motichoor laddoo, besan laddoo, and rasbhari.
The Stench of Negligence at Mori Gate
The drive extended to the Mori Gate Khoya Mandi, where the findings were particularly grim. Officials discovered 520 kg of abandoned khoya and chhena that had completely rotted and were emitting a foul smell. The 370 kg of khoya and 150 kg of chhena were destroyed on the spot to prevent any possibility of them entering the food chain. Three samples from this site were also seized for further analysis.
This is not an isolated incident at this location; the department noted that a massive haul of approximately 3,050 kg of paneer and khoya had previously been destroyed at the same market during the Janmashtami celebrations on September 4.
Zero Tolerance for Public Health Risks
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has issued a stern warning to food business operators, emphasizing that profit cannot come at the cost of human life. She highlighted that the purity of sweets is not just a legal requirement but a cultural and social responsibility, given their role in tradition and faith.
“Those who violate rules and play with public health will not be spared. No business operator will be allowed to risk people's health for higher profits,” the Chief Minister asserted.
What Happens Next?
The Food Safety Department has confirmed that the campaign will not stop here. Inspections will continue throughout the festive period to ensure compliance. Based on the findings of the current inspections and the results of the laboratory tests, strict legal action will be initiated against the offenders under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.