Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Delhi Destroys Over 2,800 Kg of Unsafe Festive Foods
Delhi officials checked food markets before the festive season.
They found about 2,830 kilograms of unclaimed khoya, dhaap and butter in dirty conditions.
The food smelled bad and showed signs of getting spoiled.
Officials asked sellers to claim it, but nobody came forward.
The food was then confiscated and destroyed.
Tests found that all 10 khoya and cream samples from Mori Gate did not meet requirements.
At Janakpuri Mandi, four samples tested positive for detergent, so more paneer and khoya were destroyed as a precaution.
Officials said they will keep checking markets to help protect people from unsafe food.
Delhi’s Food Safety Department destroyed more than 2,800 kg of unsafe or abandoned food ahead of the festive season.
About 2,830 kg of unclaimed khoya, dhaap and butter was found foul-smelling and deteriorating at four markets.
All 10 khoya and cream samples collected from Mori Gate were found non-conforming by the State Laboratory.
At Janakpuri Mandi, four of 28 surveillance samples tested positive for detergent, leading to the destruction of about 150 kg of paneer and 10 kg of khoya.
Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh ordered heightened surveillance and strict action against sellers of unsafe or adulterated food.
- Who
- Delhi’s Food Safety Department, acting on directions from Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, conducted the inspections.
- What
- Officials inspected food markets, tested dairy products and destroyed more than 2,800 kg of unsafe or abandoned food.
- When
- The main inspection drive took place on Monday ahead of the festive season, with further checks ordered throughout the season.
- Where
- The inspections covered Khoya Mandi, Mori Gate, Bagh Deewar, Sanjay Market and Janakpuri Mandi; the abandoned stock was destroyed at the MCD dumping site at Majnu Ka Tila.
- Why
- Authorities said the checks were intended to prevent unsafe or adulterated festive food from reaching consumers as demand for sweets and dairy products increases.
- Total food destroyed
- More than 2,800 kg of unsafe or abandoned food.
- Unclaimed stock
- Around 2,830 kg of khoya, dhaap and butter was found in unhygienic conditions at four markets.
- Mori Gate results
- All 10 khoya and cream samples tested at the State Laboratory were non-conforming.
- Janakpuri testing
- Four of 28 surveillance samples tested positive for detergent.
- Janakpuri destruction
- About 150 kg of paneer and 10 kg of khoya were destroyed as a precaution.
- Other testing
- Four Food Safety Wheel samples, including two paneer and two khoya samples, were found conforming.
- Legal basis
- The unclaimed stock was confiscated and destroyed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
