Admin cracks down on adulteration, raids 12 shops in Greater Noida

Ahead of Diwali, the district administration and the police have intensified their drive against adulterated food items, including sweets, in the city.

Ahead of Diwali, the district administration and the police have intensified their drive against adulterated food items, including sweets, in the city.

Senior police and district administration officials during an inspection at a prominent sweet shop in Ghaziabad on Wednesday. (Sakib Ali/HT photo)

Following orders of the district magistrate, a team comprising the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and deputy superintendent of police (DSP) raided more than a dozen sweet shops in rural areas of Greater Noida on Wednesday.

A team from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was also present during the raid to collect food samples.

“Adulterated products are supplied to the city from nearby towns such as Meerut, Bulandshahr, Baghpat and Mathura. Sweet potato, potato, whitener, lactic acid, vaseline and harmful chemicals are used in the production of adulterated food items. These items are likely to flood shops during the festival season,” Rajesh Singh, SDM, said in Dadri.

He said the team from the FDA picked up samples from various shops in Dadri for laboratory tests.

“We have instructed sweet manufacturers not to indulge in food adulteration. The administration will take strict action in case of a complaint,” Singh said.

The police said a team has been formed to assist the FDA in checking food adulteration around Diwali.

In August, the food and drugs department had registered an FIR against 22 offenders for serving sub-standard products to consumers. Laboratory reports found the quality of the samples unsatisfactory. Milk products of some reputed brands too had failed to meet the criteria.