Ujjain plans ban on silver foil on sweets:Collector issues directions at meeting with vendors, caterers

To make sweets look more attractive, the silver foil used on them could pose health risks. During a meeting with food safety officials and catering business operators at the Administrative Complex on Wednesday, Ujjain Collector Roshan Singh said the use of silver foil on sweets in the city should be stopped to help prevent related health problems. Collector Roshan Singh directed food safety officials not to wait for festivals before collecting samples. He instructed them to continue regular sampling so that fake or substandard food products are not sold in the market. Singh said cheaper silver foil often contains toxic metals such as aluminium, lead and cadmium. The accumulation of these substances in the body can damage vital organs. Fine particles of silver or other adulterated metals cannot be properly digested by the body. They can accumulate directly in the liver and kidneys, causing damage. Consumption of fake or poor-quality foil may also lead to digestive problems such as stomach infections, pain and ulcers. Due to contamination with heavy metals, prolonged consumption may affect the nervous system, impacting memory and overall health. Collector Singh said Ujjain would take the initiative to completely stop the use of silver foil on sweets in the city. He directed officials to hold meetings with sweet shop owners and caterers and create awareness about quality standards. Chief Food Safety Officer Basant Datt Sharma said that during a meeting held at the Administrative Complex, the department reported collecting 513 food samples between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 against a target of 420, achieving 122% of the target. Similarly, between 1 April 2026 and 20 June 2026, a total of 90 samples were collected, exceeding the prescribed target.