NEW DELHI: The Delhi government’s food safety department teams have seized and destroyed over 4,100kg of adulterated khoya, chhena and analogue paneer ahead of the upcoming festival season.The department collected 30 samples from Mori Gate Khoya Mandi, of which 22 were found unsafe for human consumption.Also, 12 of 19 khoya and chhena samples, which are used in sweet-making, were found to be substandard, a Delhi CMO statement said on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported.The quantity of adulterated paneer, khoya and chhena, totalling over 4,100kg, was recovered and destroyed by food safety teams during a month-long drive, it said.Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said her government was committed to ensuring safe food for Delhiites during the festive season.The enforcement drives were conducted across major markets and food-selling points in Delhi, including Okhla Sabzi Mandi, Mori Gate Khoya Mandi, Bagh Diwar, Sanjay Market, Chhoti Sabzi Mandi in Janakpuri, Mochi Market in Shahdara, Ghazipur and Jheel, PTI reported.The department also conducted online inspections.During the drives, food business operators were instructed to strictly follow prescribed hygiene standards and sell only genuine food products that meet the required standards.Prosecution proceedings have been initiated against food business operators under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, over the recovery of adulterated products.The department has made it clear that action against food business operators violating food safety regulations will continue as per the rules.The food safety team also carried out raids at various locations, including Khari Baoli, Okhla Sabzi Mandi, the Jheel area of east Delhi and Janakpuri Mandi in west Delhi on Wednesday.The drive will continue until the festive season is over. Those who put people’s health at risk through adulteration will face strict action, chief minister Gupta warned.She has directed the food safety department to conduct regular inspections in markets, collect samples of suspected food products and take action as per the rules against food business operators, the statement added.(With agency inputs)
