Adulteration in festival sweets: health officials warn of risks

With sweet sales at their peak for the Deepavali festival, health officials and medical experts have issued warnings about adulterated food products.

Inspections by food safety officials in Delhi led to the seizure of several adulterated food items, including khoya. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta personally carried out an inspection in the Turkman Gate area on November 3.

In the past two months alone, more than 4,000 kilograms of adulterated food products, including khoya, ghee, paneer and sweets, have been destroyed. Of 290 samples sent for testing, 85 were found to be unsafe or substandard.

Officials said 30 enforcement actions have been taken in connection with these findings. Mixing rice flour, soda and artificial colours into substandard milk products is among the common adulteration methods.

During the festive season, people should worry not only about the calories in sweets but also about whether they are adulterated, experts advise. Simple precautions such as buying from known, trusted shops and checking quality certification labels on packets will protect family health.