Steep discounts under scanner: 322 kg ghee seized in Delhi food safety drive

Officials collected samples for testing and flagged compliance shortcomings (File photo).

The Delhi government’s Food Safety Department has seized over 322 kg of ghee during inspections of stores advertising steep discounts on social media, as part of a festive-season crackdown on food adulteration and safety violations.

“The festive season is a time of joy and celebration, but no compromise on food quality or people’s health will be acceptable,” Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said Thursday, adding that the government would not tolerate adulteration, substandard products, the sale of expired food or incorrect labelling.

During inspections at Maxcart Store and Aggarwal Store in Vikaspuri, officials collected five enforcement samples of ghee and five surveillance samples of other food products, seizing 75.53 litres of ghee. At Aggarwal Store in Hastal village, officials collected three enforcement samples of ghee from the Shri Shan, Vrinda Farms and Avtar brands and seized 246 kg of ghee. The department said it would take further action after reviewing the inspection findings and laboratory reports.

The drive also covered other establishments. Officials collected two samples of sugar-boiled confectionery from Sahib Sons in Azad Market over suspected incorrect labelling. They also collected samples of makhana and turmeric powder from Jain Store in Lajpat Nagar, and biscuits and candies from Yug Basket in Rithala. Officials recorded food safety compliance shortcomings at these establishments.

The inspections come days after another enforcement drive by the department uncovered expired food products, pest infestations, unhygienic storage conditions and lapses in temperature control at dark stores and warehouses operated by quick-commerce and retail companies across Delhi. The department issued improvement notices to establishments, directing them to rectify the deficiencies.