Ahmedabad Food Safety Drive: 22 of 612 Samples Found Substandard, 28 Units Sealed, ₹12.79 Lakh Penalty Recovered in September

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Food Department found 22 substandard samples among 612 tested in September, while 28 food units were sealed or closed and ₹12.79 lakh in penalties was recovered for violations.

Navratri Food Stalls to Be Inspected

With Navratri approaching, the civic body will conduct special checks at food stalls set up at garba venues, housing societies, party plots and other locations across Ahmedabad.

Officials will collect food samples where required and take action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, against vendors found violating safety norms.

Organisers have also been advised to verify that food vendors hold valid FSSAI licences or registrations before allotting stalls. The licence or registration number must be displayed clearly at the stall.

28 Food Units Sealed or Closed

The AMC Food Department took sealing or closure action against 28 food establishments in September.

The violations included operating without a food safety licence, unhygienic conditions, substandard food samples, use of prohibited synthetic food colours and non-compliance with packaging and labelling requirements.

9,334 Kg Food Stock Held

During September, the Food Department placed 9,334 kg of food stock, valued at ₹21.64 lakh, under suspension during inspections.

The department collected ₹12.79 lakh in penalties for violations and issued 404 notices. It also destroyed 1,863 kg/litres of food products deemed unfit for consumption.

Food Safety Rules for Navratri Vendors

Vendors have been instructed to keep food covered and protected from dust, flies and other contamination. Only safe and potable water should be used for cooking and drinking.

Raw and cooked food must be kept separately and stored at appropriate temperatures. Vendors have also been directed not to sell stale, contaminated or expired food.

The civic body has warned vendors against using prohibited artificial colours or colours beyond permitted limits. Food handlers must wear clean clothes, head covers or caps and gloves where required, while direct handling of food should be avoided by using clean utensils.

Separate covered bins must be provided for wet and dry waste, with cleanliness maintained around the stalls.

Repeated Use of Cooking Oil Prohibited

The Food Department has instructed Navratri food stalls to use good-quality edible oil and avoid repeatedly reusing the same oil.

Officials will also check compliance with hygiene, packaging, labelling and food safety requirements during the special drive.

Ghee, Paneer, Sauces and Oil Samples Found Substandard

Among the 22 substandard samples identified in September were palmolein oil, ginger-garlic paste, reused cooking oil, sweet chutney, red gravy, garlic powder, veg puff, sambhar, medium-fat paneer, fruit squash and soy sauce.

Several ghee samples were also declared substandard, including Desi Cow Ghee sold under Gopishree, Pure Cow Ghee by Shri Amrut, Desi Cow Ghee by Prasang, Premium Cow Ghee by KT Krishna and Pure Cow Ghee by Khusali.