Gajak unit sealed over filthy production conditions:Citywide checks reveal alarming food safety breaches, prompting sample collection from various eateries

Continuing the ongoing crackdown on adulterated and unhygienic food practices in the city, food safety officials carried out an extensive inspection drive in the Khatipura area on Wednesday. The team sealed a gajak manufacturing unit after finding sweets being prepared in highly unsanitary conditions. The action comes at a time when the demand for traditional winter sweets is rising, prompting stricter surveillance of local food units. Operating without mandatory license During a surprise visit to Sumit Gajak and Kulfi, inspectors found that sesame and peanut gajak were being made amid dirt, littered surfaces and exposed ingredients. The team noted the absence of basic hygiene protocols, such as proper storage, covered workstations and clean handling practices. The unit was also functioning without the compulsory food licence, a requirement for any enterprise involved in food manufacturing. Officials collected samples of jaggery, sesame, sesame gajak and peanut brittle to assess whether the ingredients met food safety standards. Given the combination of filthy production conditions and the lack of regulatory approval, the manufacturing and sales activities of the unit were ordered to halt immediately. The premises were formally sealed, and further administrative action is expected once laboratory reports are received. More establishments inspected across Khatipura Expanding the scope of the drive, the food safety team inspected Ganbhog Foods, another sweet-making unit in Khatipura. Samples of rajgira laddoo and til laddoo were taken to verify product quality and hygiene conditions. Officials said the inspections were not limited to small-scale units, as winter months see a surge in sweet-making activity, increasing the risk of adulteration. The team is also mapping high-risk zones where routine lapses in hygiene have been reported earlier. Surprise checks reach high-end kitchens The officials then inspected Moti Mahal Deluxe at Phoenix Citadel Mall, one of the city’s popular restaurant chains. Samples of paneer, rice and refined flour were lifted to examine the quality of ingredients used in high-footfall kitchens. Inspectors assessed storage conditions, handling of perishable items, and general cleanliness. The team stated that restaurants serving high customer volume are also being evaluated to ensure compliance, especially during peak dining months. Clean and safe food is non-negotiable: Collector Collector Shivam Verma emphasised that the administration will continue its citywide monitoring to ensure that citizens have access to pure and safe food products. He noted that the collected samples have been sent to the State Food Testing Laboratory in Bhopal for detailed analysis. Once the reports are received, strict legal action will follow in every case where violations are confirmed he said, adding that regular checks will continue in both residential and commercial clusters through the winter season.