19 out of 59 ghee tested ‘unsafe’ for human consumption: Delhi govt.

Ahead of the festival season, the Food Safety Department found expired products, pests, unhygienic storage conditions, at food storage facilities operated by quick-commerce and retail companies in various parts of Delhi. The Department also tested samples of various brands of desi ghee sold in markets across the city and 19 out of 59 were found to be “unsafe” for human consumption, while four failed to meet food safety standards, as per the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). 

“At Swiggy Instamart’s premises 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 Reliance Retail Limited’s premises in the Wazirpur Industrial Area, flies, mosquitoes and a lizard were found. Spider webs were also present,” the CMO said in an official statement. 

“During an inspection at Zomato Hyperpure’s premises in Ghevra, officials found expired products. Unhygienic conditions were also recorded. At Zepto Limited’s premises in Jheel Khureja, shortcomings were found in maintaining the prescribed cold-storage temperature. Cockroaches and spider webs were also found,” the statement said. 

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that compromising on food quality or endangering people’s health through adulteration is unacceptable under any circumstances. 

“The health and safety of Delhiites will not be compromised. 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,” Ms. Gupta said.  

Unsafe ghee

The Food Safety Department collected a total of 59 samples of different brands of desi ghee from markets across Delhi. 

As per the CMO, the brands whose samples were declared “unsafe for human consumption” include Haryana Lite, Haryana Supreme, Haryana Dairy, Haryana Pure, Shree Haryana King, Shree Haryana Foods, Kartar, Prabhas, Madhu Sangam, Radha Krishna, New Punjab Super Brand, Akshara, Anand Gold, Shree Nandan, Shree Mohan and Shree Krishna.

“The Department classified samples of Nova, Govardhan Pure Cow Ghee and Pratap Desi Ghee as substandard. According to the Department, orders have been issued to shut down establishments selling unsafe ghee, and their licences have been suspended,” the statement said. 

The CM said that the government’s objective is not merely to identify deficiencies, but 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 government priorities, she added.