New Delhi: Frozen green peas, Greek yoghurt, soft drinks and eggless chocolate-chip brownies past their use-by dates were some of the items stacked for sale at warehouses and dark stores. Nineteen of 59 desi ghee samples were also found unfit for consumption in an inspection drive by Delhi’s food safety department this week, while four others were substandard.The ghee samples were collected from different brands from markets across Delhi in Naharpur, Posangipur, Laxmi Nagar, Preet Vihar, Rampura, Tagore Garden, Kalyanpuri, Krishna Vihar and Kondli.In Uttam Nagar, officials found frozen green peas, Greek yoghurt, eggless chocolate-chip brownies and cow ghee products that had passed their expiry dates. Some packets of sprouts, fruits and vegetables also did not carry expiry dates. At another facility in Wazirpur Industrial Area, flies, mosquitoes and a lizard were found.During an inspection in Ghevra, officials found expired cold drink and shikanji products. At another premises in Jheel Khureja, shortcomings were found in maintaining the prescribed cold-storage temperature. Cockroaches and spider webs were also found. The racks were dirty and rusted; food products were stored on top of spoiled products, the wall surfaces were peeling, and some food items were kept directly on the floor.In Asaf Ali Road and in Daryaganj, dirty crates and dust in food storage areas were found. Rat traps had not been placed at appropriate locations, and their number was also inadequate. At a Rohini store, no arrangement was found to segregate food items to prevent the risk of contamination from one product to another.CM Rekha Gupta said, “The food safety department has been directed to tighten monitoring of markets, food storage facilities and establishments supplying food products through online platforms. Action must be taken in accordance with the rules wherever food safety standards are violated. The govt’s objective is not merely to identify deficiencies, but also to ensure a system in which every family in Delhi has access to safe and quality food. Protecting public health and ensuring accountability in the food trade remain govt priorities.”The CMO, in a statement, said that inspections also revealed expired food products, the presence of pests, unhygienic storage conditions and shortcomings in maintaining the required temperature at several premises. It added that action is being taken in accordance with the rules. Improvement notices have been issued to the establishments concerned, while licences of those selling unsafe ghee have been suspended and closure orders issued, said officials.
