In a rigorous crackdown against food adulteration and regulatory violations, the food safety department in Kota launched an extensive inspection drive targeting more than two dozen commercial establishments across the city. The operation resulted in the immediate seizure and on-the-spot destruction of nearly sixty kilograms of expired and substandard food items. The enforcement team specifically focused on sweet shops, hotels, hostel messes, and grocery stores to ensure better public health standards and protect consumers from consuming compromised ingredients.
Severe Irregularities Found at Vigyan Nagar Mess
During the inspection of Punjabi Mess located in the Vigyan Nagar area, the inspection team uncovered deeply concerning hygiene standards along with a massive cache of expired goods. The authorities recovered numerous expired items including cheese packets, instant noodles, ginger powder, dry fruits, spices, peeled garlic, and pomegranate seeds, totaling around thirty-two kilograms of compromised food. The entire lot was destroyed immediately at the venue. Furthermore, the mess operators failed to present mandatory employee medical certificates, water testing reports, and pest control documentation. Consequently, a formal notice under section thirty-two of the Food Safety Act is being issued to the establishment. The team also procured six distinct samples of table butter and various spices for laboratory analysis.
Crackdown Extends to Sushil Kirana Store
Following information gathered from the mess operator regarding their supply chain, the food safety team proceeded to inspect Sushil Kirana Store in Vigyan Nagar, where another large stock of expired products was discovered. The confiscated goods included various brands of biscuits, Chyawanprash, mixed fruit jam, soy chunks, noodles, packaged spices, peanut powder, pickle masala, custard powder, cornstarch, and organic honey. In total, over twenty-eight kilograms of expired merchandise was uncovered and destroyed on the spot. The shop owner was strictly instructed to maintain proper sanitation standards, and the outlet was similarly found lacking a valid pest control certificate. The team collected eleven samples comprising spices, dry fruits, refined flour, and gram flour from this location.
Inspection Sweep Near Railway Station and City Mall
Continuing the statewide campaign, the inspection team visited Dayanidhi Residency, collecting eight samples including cooking oil, gravy, spices, flour, and black salt. Over the preceding two days, food samples were also gathered from multiple establishments surrounding the railway station area. Samples of curd were collected from Mira Hotel, paneer and jalebi from Shriram Namkeen and Sweets, milk from Janta Dairy, and five varieties of sweets from SMB Caters. Additionally, popular food outlets near the City Mall area faced scrutiny. The authorities collected used refined oil and refined flour samples from KFC, used oil and veg Manchurian samples from Chinese Walk, and used cooking oil samples from Burger Farm.
Samples Sent to Laboratory for Further Action
All the food samples collected across various eateries, sweet shops, and grocery stores have been securely dispatched to the designated food testing laboratory in Kota. Further legal actions and penalties will be initiated in accordance with established regulations once the official test results are released by the laboratory. Officials have reiterated that inspections targeting food safety and hygiene compliance will continue unabated across the region to safeguard consumer health.
