Spotlight
oi-Oneindia Staff
Delhi’s food safety department has stepped up its inspections ahead of Diwali to prevent the sale of adulterated food products. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the Delhi government has seized around 7,000 kg of suspected adulterated paneer and khoya from the market.
Delhi’s food safety department seized 7,000 kg of suspected adulterated paneer and khoya before Diwali, intensifying checks amid rising festive demand. National data revealed 34,388 of 170,535 food samples failed standards in FY 2024-25, highlighting ongoing food quality concerns.
The action aims to ensure food quality during the festive season and protect people from consuming unsafe products.
A video shared on social media shows Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inspecting the seized food items. In the video, she is seen throwing away suspected adulterated paneer and directing officials to speed up inspections and take strict action against those involved in food adulteration.
Why Is Food Safety A Major Concern Ahead Of Diwali?
Demand for paneer, khoya, ghee and sweets increases during Diwali. However, the rise in demand also increases the risk of low-quality and adulterated products entering the market.
To prevent this, food safety officials have been asked to increase inspections in markets and keep a close watch on the quality of food products being sold.
How Serious Is The Food Adulteration Problem In India?
According to data presented by the Central Government in Parliament, a total of 1,70,535 food samples were tested across India during the financial year 2024-25. Of these, 34,388 samples failed to meet the prescribed standards.
These figures cover different food products and are not limited to milk or dairy items.
In June 2026, the Food and Drug Administration in Pune conducted raids at 17 locations. Officials seized suspected adulterated khoya, paneer, cheese substitutes and ghee worth around Rs 47.36 lakh.
Similarly, Hyderabad’s food adulteration monitoring team registered 185 cases during its first 100 days after being launched in 2026. The team also seized around 122 tonnes of food products, including 4,030 kg of adulterated khoya and 1,514 kg of synthetic paneer.
Food Tests Reveal Concerning Results
Food quality tests have also raised concerns about the sale of paneer in different parts of the country.
In April 2025, around 83 per cent of the paneer samples tested in Noida and Greater Noida failed to meet quality standards. Of these, 40 per cent were declared unsafe for consumption.
In Ahmedabad, eight out of 10 paneer samples declared unsafe between January and mid-April 2025 were found to be paneer products.
Food Adulteration Checks Needed Beyond Festive Seasons
The problem is not limited to Diwali. In February 2026, before Holi, officials seized and destroyed 1,200 kg of suspected adulterated paneer in Ghaziabad. In another action, around 900 kg of unhygienic khoya was destroyed in Kanpur.
These incidents highlight the need for regular food safety inspections rather than limiting checks to festive seasons.
Consumers should buy paneer, khoya and sweets from trusted shops. However, the actual quality and safety of food products can only be confirmed through proper testing and laboratory reports.
