The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has intensified action against food safety violations across the city, shutting down hundreds of food operations after laboratory tests revealed the use of unsafe ingredients and unhygienic practices.
According to officials from the AMC’s food department, samples of water, ragda and mawa were collected from 1,319 panipuri lorries during inspections carried out in January. Of these, 291 samples were found to contain harmful food-grade colouring. Following the findings, the concerned panipuri lorries were ordered to shut down.
In a parallel drive conducted under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) norms, samples of commonly consumed food items such as paneer, butter, ghee, jaggery, green chutney and patra were collected from food units across the city. Laboratory reports declared samples from 10 units as substandard or uncertified, prompting further action by the civic body.
Dr Tejas Shah, an officer with the AMC food department, said legal proceedings would be initiated against the violators. “Notices have been issued to all the concerned units, and cases will be filed in court as per the provisions of the law,” he said.
Separately, the AMC also took action under the Gujarat Provincial Municipal Corporation (GPMC) Act, sealing several food establishments for serious violations. The sealed units include Das Khaman in Nikol, Sawaibhoj Maharaj in Usmanpura, Shailesh’s Panipuri in Behrampura and a unit run by Afzal Ahmedbhai Zaveri in Juhapura.
Overall, the food department inspected 1,485 food units across Ahmedabad during January. Notices were served on 573 establishments for various lapses, and penalties totalling Rs. 5.73 lakh were imposed.
AMC officials said inspections and sampling drives would continue in the coming weeks to ensure food safety and protect public health, particularly in areas with high footfall and street food consumption.
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