Ahmedabad, July 2: The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has intensified food safety measures throughout the city in June. The corporation collected 709 food samples from various vendors and inspected 1,877 food establishments.
Out of these, 46 samples were found to be unsafe or of substandard quality under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
According to the AMC, the Food Department took samples of various food items between June 1 and June 30. These included cold beverages, sugarcane juice, mango milkshake, watermelon juice, dairy products, sweets, bakery items, snacks, gram flour, refined flour, grains, cooking oil, spices, and other food items.
The largest category comprised 229 samples of various food products, followed by 121 samples of dairy products and 101 samples of spices.
Among the 46 failed samples, two were declared unsafe, leading to court cases against the respective food business operators under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The remaining 44 samples were deemed of poor quality, prompting action against the operators before a decisive authority. During the month, the department also inspected 1,877 food business establishments across different zones in Ahmedabad.
It issued 545 notices for violations of food safety regulations, destroyed approximately 2,748 kilograms and 1,269 liters of unsanitary food stock, and collected an administrative charge of ₹1,029,500. Additionally, 387 Total Polar Compound (TPC) tests were conducted to check the quality of cooking oil used in food businesses.
As part of monitoring street food hygiene, the AMC has implemented a QR code-based public feedback system for registered street vendors and roadside food stalls. Each registered vendor receives a unique QR code that customers can scan to provide feedback on cleanliness and hygiene. This feedback is used to monitor vendors and improve food quality standards. Over 10,000 street food vendors have registered under this initiative across various zones in the city.
Based on public feedback received through the QR code system, the top five rated vendors so far are Facebook Pani Puri near Anand Party Plot in Sardar Nagar, Agarwal Kachori Center near Delhi Darwaza in Shahibaug, Krishna Pakodi Center near Jivan Supermarket in Ramol, Taste of South in front of Gujarati School in Vatva, and Jai Kishan Pakodi Center in front of Bhagwati Jewelers in Khokhra.
Officials stated, “All registered food vendors are issued QR codes, and action is taken against those who do not display them. Businesses operating without food registration have also been directed to complete the registration process.”
During the crackdown in June, officials seized 450 kilograms of parcel lime worth approximately ₹22,500 and 508 kilograms of Rifa and Kapasia worth around ₹73,660.
The Food Department also sealed four shops this month. Munna Chinese and Mughlai in Maktampura was sealed on June 3 due to cleanliness issues and violations of Schedule 4 cleanliness regulations. A coffee stand in Navrangpura was sealed on June 6 after inspectors found insects in the kitchen and non-compliance with cleanliness standards.
Shri Matangi Dairy and Food Products in Kathwada was sealed on June 10 for operating without a food safety license, along with cleanliness issues and non-compliance with Schedule 4 regulations. On June 20, Shri Vrishti Trading, a parcel lime business in Kathwada, was sealed for operating without the necessary license under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and for cleanliness deficiencies.
The AMC stated that inspections of food business cleanliness standards, licenses, and registrations will continue in the coming weeks.
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