Food Adulteration / Food Safety Raids Ahead of Festive Season in Brahmapur; 25 Kg of Food Products Destroyed

Brahmapur, Oct 16: The food safety department of the Brahmapur Municipal Corporation has carried out raids on sweet shops and street food outlets across the city ahead of the festive season, destroying 25 kg of food products and issuing a notice to shut a sweet-making unit for three days over unhygienic conditions, a source said on Friday.

The inspections were conducted amid a rise in demand for sweets during the festive season. The department checked outlets in areas including Sana Bazar, Bada Bazar, Prem Nagar, Haridakhandi, Engineering School Square, Lanjipalli, Ramalingam Sagar Square and Kamapalli.

More than 40 shops were inspected, and samples from 40 outlets were collected and sent for testing, the source added.

Also Read: Food Safety Crackdown Exposes Stale Sweets in Bhubaneswar

25 Kg Of Food Products Destroyed
During the raids, officials destroyed 10 kg of sweets allegedly containing excessive artificial food colour. Another 15 kg of stale food and products containing synthetic food colours were also discarded.

A sweet-making unit was issued a notice to remain closed for three days after officials found sweets being prepared in unhygienic conditions.

Three sweet shops were also served notices over cleanliness and food safety concerns. The department collected a total fine of Rs 6,000 from some shopkeepers, the source informed.

Inspections Ahead Of Festive Season
The action comes as demand for sweets and other food items rises during the festive period. The department has been inspecting sweet shops and street food outlets to check hygiene and food safety practices.

Officials collected samples from the inspected outlets for laboratory testing.

The department's inspections covered several parts of Brahmapur, including markets and busy commercial areas, as part of efforts to ensure that food products sold during the festive season meet safety and hygiene standards.