600kg unclaimed sweets seized in Indore ahead of Diwali:Food samples of two eateries in Phoenix Citadel found unsafe; reports of over 400 food samples pending

With the festive season approaching, the district food safety administration has launched a massive crackdown to ensure food purity ahead of Diwali. Acting on the directives of Collector Shivam Verma, teams of food safety officers conducted surprise inspections across the city for two days, focusing on sweet shops, food depots, and transport hubs. 600 kg of unclaimed sweets seized Based on a tip-off, officials raided Sarwate Bus Stand, where an auto-rickshaw (registration number MP09R5521) was found carrying around 600 kg of sweets packed in tin boxes.
When questioned, the driver Arif Khan stated he was about to load the consignment on a bus to Khandwa but could not provide the name or address of the owner.
The food safety team seized the sweets and placed them under custody pending investigation. Samples of eateries at Phoenix Mall found unsafe Officials confirmed that earlier food samples collected from several city outlets had failed safety tests. Food samples of paneer taken from Moti Mahal Deluxe Restaurant and Light Bite Foods Pvt. Ltd. (operating Street Foods by Asia Seven and Punjab Grill at Phoenix Citadel Mall) were found unsafe after laboratory examination.
Cases against both establishments have been filed before the Judicial Magistrate First Class. Similarly, samples of cashew nuts collected from Shrinath Traders, Kalani Nagar were also declared unsafe, and legal proceedings have been initiated. Slow testing, thousands of reports pending Despite regular sampling drives, testing delays remain a serious concern. Around 400 samples of sweets, mawa, and milk products collected during Raksha Bandhan are still pending reports at the state laboratory in Bhopal.
Officials admit that limited testing infrastructure has led to severe backlogs across Madhya Pradesh. Most samples from Indore and nearby districts are sent to the State Food Laboratory in Bhopal, where thousands of reports are still pending. Mobile testing vans on field Food Safety Officer Manish Swami said mobile testing vans have been deployed to accelerate checks during the festive period. Teams are visiting major markets and transport hubs with portable food testing labs. Suspicious items are being tested on the spot, and if found unsafe, immediately seized. Swami said. Indore’s food fame at stake Known worldwide for its culinary culture, from 56 Dukan to Sarafa Bazaar’s sweets and snacks, Indore’s reputation for clean, quality food faces a challenge as adulteration spikes every festive season.
While demand for mawa, sweets, and dairy products rises sharply during Diwali, authorities say the drive will continue across the district to curb adulteration and safeguard public health.