With Delhi's festive season approaching, the city's food safety department launched a sweeping crackdown on Monday, targeting major wholesale food markets across the capital. Teams seized and destroyed more than 2,800 kg of khoya, dhaap and butter after the stock turned out to be both unclaimed and unfit for human consumption. The drive was carried out on the instructions of Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, who wanted to make sure that adulterators could not exploit the rush of festival shopping. Singh said, "There should be absolutely no compromise on food safety in the rush of festival preparations." He added that no unsafe or adulterated food should reach the people of Delhi, and that strict action would follow against anyone endangering public health.
Filthy conditions found across markets
Inspection teams combed through markets including Khoya Mandi, Mori Gate, Baag Diwar, Sanjay Market and Janakpuri Mandi, focusing on adulteration, poor storage and substandard quality. At Khoya Mandi, Mori Gate, Baag Diwar and Sanjay Market, officials found nearly 2,830 kg of unclaimed khoya, dhaap and butter lying in extremely unhygienic conditions. The stock was reportedly foul-smelling and already spoiling. Officials made a public announcement asking vendors to come forward and claim the goods, but no one did.
Seizure and destruction under the law
Since no one claimed ownership, the entire stock was seized under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. It was then transported to the MCD dumping site at Majnu ka Tila and destroyed there, preventing it from re-entering the market.
Lab tests confirm adulteration
Beyond what was visible on the ground, laboratory testing turned up further problems. All 10 samples of khoya and cream collected from Mori Gate failed to meet quality standards, meaning every single sample fell short. At Janakpuri Mandi, the team inspected 10 food shops and collected 10 legal samples of paneer. Separately, 28 samples were checked using the food safety wheel, and 4 of them were found adulterated with dangerous detergent. As a precaution, around 150 kg of paneer and 10 kg of khoya were destroyed on the spot to keep the tainted stock from reaching any customer.
Continued vigilance ordered for the festive season
The health minister has directed the food safety department to maintain strict vigilance and keep up inspections throughout the festive season. The department has said customer safety remains its top priority and that officials have been instructed to take immediate and strict action wherever adulterated or unsafe food is found.
