Delhi Food Safety Dept. Raids Wholesale Markets Ahead of Diwali

On October 19, the Delhi Food Safety department issued a circular that cancelled all leave until November 15, citing the festive season and administrative requirements. Four days later, a team of about 25 officials raided Khoya Mandi in Mori Gate, catching vendors off guard. Several vendors fled, leaving behind consignments of adulterated and expired khoya and paneer that were seized and destroyed. The raid was part of a wider crackdown ahead of Diwali, to be celebrated on November 8. In the last ten days, the department has conducted more than a dozen raids across the capital, seizing and destroying over two quintals of milk and dairy products, including ghee, paneer and khoya. The operations have covered Malcha Marg, Khan Market, India International Centre, Dilli Haat, Bhogal, Azadpur Mandi, Najafgarh, Khoya Mandi, Nihal Vihar and Naharpur village, as well as bakeries in Greater Kailash, Kailash Colony, Connaught Place, Shakurbasti, Patparganj Industrial Area and Mayapuri. The main objective is to break the backbone of those involved in food adulteration during the festive season, when demand for dairy products typically rises. The raid at Khoya Mandi was planned at short notice; officials were informed only minutes before departure. The team, which included 15 inspectors and a Food Safety on Wheels van, entered the market wearing identity cards and recorded the operation on video. Several small vendors fled, leaving their consignments behind. The team collected seven to eight samples of dairy products for laboratory testing. Consignments whose source and quality could not be established were destroyed because of their short shelf life and concerns over safety. Samples that fail are sent to the department’s laboratory on Lawrence Road, with reports generally received within 14 days. If a sample fails, the trader is given about 30 days to submit an explanation or challenge the result. If the subsequent test also fails, the Food Safety Officer investigates and submits a report to an Additional District Magistrate court for further proceedings. The government has increased fines for those found guilty, and earlier provisions for criminal prosecution were changed. The crackdown is being carried out under a plan initiated by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Health Minister Pankaj Singh. On Wednesday, the department seized 948.9 litres of ghee during raids at three locations in a joint operation with the Delhi Police. Of this, 389.9 litres were seized from Bhogal Market, 338 litres from Najafgarh Market and 221 litres from Shiv Vihar. Fifteen samples were collected from Bhogal and Najafgarh and sent for laboratory testing. Gupta has said that the crackdown would continue throughout the year and warned that no one involved in adulteration, including branded companies, would be spared. She has urged residents to report food adulteration, poor quality products and the sale of expired items on the department’s helpline, 1800-11-3921.