Shaharbeen Times
October 27, 2024, 07:06 IST
As Diwali approaches, authorities have heightened their vigilance, uncovering alarming cases of food contamination in sweets across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Pre-Diwali raids by food safety officials have led to the confiscation of contaminated sweets in key areas like Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Ujjain, and Indore.
In Noida, food safety officials seized samples of ghee and besan laddus from a local sweet factory, while Greater Noida saw the destruction of over 200 kg of rasgullas infested with insects and an additional 45 kg of contaminated sweets. Similarly, in Madhya Pradesh, authorities confiscated 300 kg of adulterated mawa from Ujjain and 225 kg from a well-known sweet shop in Indore. This substandard mawa was reportedly made using refined oil and powdered milk instead of pure ingredients.
Sarvesh Mishra, Assistant Commissioner (Food) of Gautam Budh Nagar, reported that inspections across 30 shops have already revealed significant issues, including insect-laden rasgullas stored in unsanitary conditions. In Ghaziabad, special teams have been set up to target food adulteration practices during the festive season.
Officials are urging consumers to stay vigilant when purchasing sweets this Diwali. District Health Officer Amarjeet Kaur advised against brightly colored sweets unless they are verified as FDA-approved and also warned about harmful aluminium foil often mistaken for edible silver foil. Kaur explained, “If the foil disappears when rubbed, it’s silver. If it forms a ball, it’s aluminium.”
Authorities remind consumers that practicing caution is essential to avoid health risks while enjoying festive sweets this season.
