The district food safety department has launched an extensive inspection drive ahead of Diwali to curb adulteration in sweets and other festive foods. Acting on Collector Shivam Verma’s orders, food safety teams carried out surprise raids across Indore for two days, targeting sweet shops, food godowns, and transport hubs.
Based on a tip-off, officials raided the Sarwate Bus Stand and seized 600 kg of unclaimed sweets packed in tin boxes from an auto-rickshaw (registration number MP09R5521). The driver, Arif Khan, told officers he was to send the consignment to Khandwa but could not identify its owner. The sweets were confiscated and kept in custody for further testing.
Officials confirmed that earlier food samples from several city outlets failed quality tests. Paneer samples from Moti Mahal Deluxe Restaurant and Light Bite Foods Pvt. Ltd. (operating Punjab Grill and Street Foods by Asia Seven at Phoenix Citadel Mall) were found unsafe after lab analysis. Legal cases have been filed against both establishments before the Judicial Magistrate.
Similarly, samples of cashew nuts from Shrinath Traders in Kalani Nagar were also declared unsafe, and proceedings have begun.
Backlog in testing continues
Despite regular drives, over 400 food samples collected during Raksha Bandhan are still awaiting results at the State Food Laboratory in Bhopal. Officials cited limited testing infrastructure as a key reason for the delay.
Chief Food Safety Officer Manish Swami said mobile testing vans have been deployed to speed up inspections.
“Teams are visiting major markets and transport hubs with portable testing labs. Suspicious items are checked on the spot and seized if unsafe,” Swami said.
Known for its rich food culture, from 56 Dukan to Sarafa Bazaar—Indore now faces a test of trust as authorities intensify efforts to ensure purity during the festive rush.
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