Ahead of the festive season, the Delhi government's Food Safety Department conducted inspections of warehouse premises belonging to companies involved in food delivery and retail trade. During these checks, numerous issues were discovered, including expired products, unsanitary conditions, and the presence of flies, mosquitoes, and lizards. Furthermore, deficiencies were identified in adhering to established temperature regimes for products and in pest control systems.
Minister Reha Gupta instructed officials to intensify supervision over markets, food storage centers, and food supply enterprises. The Delhi Food Safety Department initiated a special campaign to check the quality and safety of products before the holidays, during which the warehouses of several online delivery and retail services were inspected. Staff found violations of food safety rules in many locations.
According to a statement released from the minister's office, the inspections revealed that in several establishments, products were stored at incorrect temperatures. Serious shortcomings were also noted in cleanliness maintenance and pest control systems.
During an inspection of one food company's complex in Uttam Nagar, staff discovered several products with expired shelf lives. These included frozen green peas, Greek yogurt, eggless chocolate chip brownies, and ghee products. These products were taken into custody in accordance with food safety standards.
In another company complex located in the Vazirpur industrial area, serious hygiene problems were identified. Staff found flies, mosquitoes, and one lizard in the premises, as well as cobwebs in several places. During the inspection, the company failed to provide a cleaning schedule or corresponding checklists, raising questions about sanitary oversight.
At the warehouse of a major online food aggregator in Daryaganj, dirty crates and dust were found in product storage areas. Moreover, the number of mouse traps intended for rodent control was insufficient. According to staff, the existing traps were not placed in appropriate locations. At the same time, in this aggregator's store located in Rohini, there was no adequate system for separate product storage, creating a risk of cross-contamination between different goods.
The Food Safety Department's inspection also uncovered alarming facts regarding the quality of desi ghee. According to an official statement, 59 samples of desi ghee were tested, of which 19 were deemed unsafe, and four other samples did not meet food safety standards. Staff reported that product samples were also collected during the inspection. Enterprises where deficiencies were found received notices to rectify the violations.
Minister Reha Gupta directed officials to pay special attention to product quality and safety in view of the upcoming holidays. She demanded stricter supervision over markets, food storage centers, and all enterprises supplying food products. The government stated that measures are being taken against the relevant enterprises in accordance with the rules, based on the identified shortcomings.