Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 19 (HBTV): Ahead of Diwali, the Telangana Food Safety Department has launched a massive statewide inspection drive across all 33 districts, targeting sweet manufacturing units and retailers to ensure food safety during the festive season.
The inspections uncovered serious violations, including the use of synthetic food colours, non-food-grade silver foils, adulterated ghee, and reused cooking oil.
In a post on X, the Telangana State Commissioner of Food Safety stated, ‘Food Safety Drive across Telangana, as part of statewide festive inspections, teams conducted special #FoodSafety drives across all 33 districts covering sweet manufacturing units and retailers. Ninety-five sweet units were inspected statewide. Seventy-seven enforcement samples and 157 surveillance samples lifted and sent for laboratory analysis.’
The festive drive focused on ensuring that sweets consumed during Diwali meet safety standards. A total of 95 sweet manufacturing units were inspected, with 77 enforcement samples and 157 surveillance samples collected for laboratory analysis. Spot testing was also carried out in areas equipped with Food Safety on Wheels units.
The inspections revealed several violations, such as the use of synthetic colours in milk-based sweets like jalebi, laddus, and khoya items, poor hygiene standards in production facilities, adulterated ghee, reused cooking oil, and unlabelled or expired food products at retail outlets.
The Telangana Food Safety Department has urged the public to remain cautious while purchasing sweets and to report any suspected violations to authorities. The initiative forms part of the state’s broader effort to safeguard public health during the festive period.
Meanwhile, Central Railway will operate 1,702 special trains during Diwali and Chhath Puja to facilitate passenger travel and family reunions.
(ANI)