AMC finds samples of butter, paneer, ghee, jaggery substandard in inspection

Concerns over food safety in Ahmedabad have intensified after municipal inspections revealed that large quantities of inedible and substandard food items are being consumed by citizens on a daily basis. Amdavad Municipal Corporation’s Food department recently exposed serious lapses in food quality across the city.

During inspections conducted in January, samples of commonly consumed food items such as butter, paneer, ghee, jaggery, green chutney, and patra were collected from various establishments. Laboratory tests revealed that samples from 10 units failed to meet food safety standards.

According to reports , cases have been registered against the concerned units under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act, and the matter has been forwarded to court. Dr Tejas Shah, Food department officer in the AMC, confirmed that legal action has been initiated and notices have been issued to all defaulting units.

Meanwhile, inspections of street food vendors, particularly panipuri vendors, also revealed alarming results. Out of 1,319 panipuri carts inspected, samples were taken from 52 units. Of these, 291 samples were found to contain harmful, non-permitted food-grade colours, leading to the immediate stoppage of the offending vendors.

Interestingly, during checks conducted on edible oil quality, 235 samples were tested, and none failed the Total Polar Compounds (TPC) test, which assesses oil quality. One vendor was stopped from selling, but no oil sample was found unfit for consumption.

The Food department further reported that substances such as starch, palm oil, low-quality fats, sulphur dioxide, and reused oil were detected in several food items. 

Health experts warned that consumption of such adulterated food can lead to heart disease, malnutrition, digestive disorders, diarrhoea, vomiting, respiratory problems including asthma, acidity, and other serious illnesses.

Under the GPMC Act, establishments including Das Khaman (Nikol), Sawaibhoj Maharaj (Usmanpura), Shailesh’s Panipuri (Behrampura), and Afzal Ahmedbhai Zaveri (Juhapura) were sealed for violations.

In total, 1,485 food units were inspected in January, out of which 523 were issued notices, and fines amounting to ₹5.73 lakh were imposed. Municipal authorities have stated that strict monitoring will continue and further action will be taken against violators to safeguard public health.