Mumbai, August 28: The demand for sweets has surged in the markets of Barabanki due to the upcoming Raksha Bandhan and other festivals. Concerns have arisen regarding the unusually low prices of sweets in the Jahangirabad area. With mawa priced at around ₹400 per kilogram and sugar at approximately ₹60 per kilogram, the sale of kalajam at ₹180 and chhena at ₹200 per kilogram raises suspicions of adulteration. Dr. Shailendra Pratap Singh, Assistant Commissioner of the Barabanki Food Department, has assured that action will be taken.
In an interview, Dr. Singh mentioned that the food department has previously conducted inspections during festivals in the Jahangirabad market. Sampling has already been carried out, and no unsafe adulteration has been found so far. However, some food items have been identified as substandard, with confirmed adulteration involving starch or arrowroot.
He noted that legal action has been taken against those involved, with cases filed in the ADM court and fines imposed. Following recent concerns about cheap sweets, the department has decided to conduct a special investigation in Jahangirabad. An immediate team is being dispatched to assess the quality of sweets and other food items, and further actions will be determined based on the investigation results.
According to the food department, the festival season began in August. Inspections and sampling started during the fairs held in the month of Sawan. With several festivals, including Janmashtami, approaching after Raksha Bandhan, food safety officials have been instructed to continuously patrol and inspect the markets. This time, the department is particularly focused on food items being transported to other districts from Barabanki or passing through the district. Increased monitoring has been implemented on major routes in the area.
The food department has launched a checking campaign at toll plazas located on the Haydergarh, Ahmadpur, and Masouli-Bahraich roads in Barabanki. Inspections are ongoing even at night in Ahmadpur. Officials are checking food items in vehicles to prevent the distribution of suspicious or adulterated products to other districts. So far, 40 inspections have been conducted, and 19 food samples have been collected. Additionally, approximately 3,416 kilograms of snacks, valued at around ₹3.21 lakh, have been seized.
The food department is also taking action against food items that are visibly unfit for consumption. According to officials, sweets or food products showing signs of mold or emitting foul odors from milk and other ingredients are being destroyed on the spot. To date, around ₹15,000 worth of food products have been disposed of. The Assistant Commissioner clarified that the campaign will not cease with the end of the festivals; the food department’s actions will continue unabated.
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