Action taken over filth and use of banned chemicals in sweet-making under the "Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai" campaign
69 teams inspected 116 food establishments, collected 149 samples and issued 96 improvement notices
655 kg of food material seized, 537 kg of food material destroyed
Lucknow, October 2026 : In line with the Yogi government's commitment to providing the public with pure and safe food items during the festival season, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has intensified its statewide inspection drive. Under the "Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai" campaign, 69 teams of the department conducted intensive inspections of sweet and other food manufacturing establishments in 6 metropolitan cities (Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Ayodhya and Prayagraj). During this, serious neglect of hygiene standards came to light in many establishments. In some places, ready-made sweets were found kept directly on dirty floors, while at others cockroaches, flies, rat droppings and cobwebs were found at manufacturing sites. In some establishments, cases of use of banned chemicals and operation of food business without a license also surfaced. For serious irregularities, the department got nine food establishments shut down.
Under the campaign, a total of 116 food establishments were inspected and 149 food samples were collected. 96 improvement notices were issued where irregularities were found. During the action, 655 kg of food material worth Rs 4,07,176 was seized, while 537 kg of food material, with an estimated value of Rs 1,98,230, was destroyed.
In Kanpur, trays of sweets found on the floor, filth at manufacturing site
In Kanpur Nagar, extreme filth and foul smell were found at the manufacturing site of New Tiwari Sweets. Food items were also being stored in unhygienic conditions. Trays of ready-made sweets were found placed directly on the floor. Meanwhile, cobwebs and soot were found on the premises of Lala Dayaram Sweets. Sweets were being manufactured in the factory without proper cleaning. The drainage system was also found clogged, raising the risk of contamination of food items by external elements. Here, 12 teams inspected 19 of 20 units, took 26 samples and issued 16 improvement notices.
In Gorakhpur, sweet factory was operating without a license
Extreme filth was found at the factory of Kamdhenu Sweets in Dharmshala Bazaar, Gorakhpur. The walls of the manufacturing site were broken, and a heap of garbage was found on the premises. During the inspection, the establishment was also found not to hold a food business license. In Gorakhpur, 15 teams inspected 23 of 27 units. During this, 17 samples were taken and 20 improvement notices were issued.
In Meerut, case of use of banned chemicals comes to light
During the inspection of Samrat Sweets in Meerut, the use of banned saccharin, caustic soda and colour, along with non-food-grade sodium bicarbonate, came to light. In addition, the establishment's drainage system was found to be poor, and adequate arrangements for pest control were also not found.
In Ghaziabad, raw material and ready-made sweets found on dirty floors
At Tirupati Foods in the industrial area of Ghaziabad, raw material was found kept directly on a dirty floor. At Agarwal Foods in Sahibabad, cockroaches and insects were found at the storage site. The walls of the manufacturing site were also broken, with cement flaking off them. Ready-made food items were also found kept directly on the floor. Meanwhile, at Shagun Sweets in Nehru Nagar, filth was found throughout the premises, along with a broken floor, disorganised raw material and a poor drainage system. In Ghaziabad, 18 teams inspected 25 units, took 49 samples and issued 20 improvement notices. Three establishments were shut down here.
In Ayodhya, sweets were being stored amid filth and contaminated water
At Ram Naresh Sweets at Belsar Chauraha in Ayodhya, sweets were being manufactured in extremely filthy conditions. Flies were present on the premises, and the condition of food storage was also found to be poor. At Sanjay Yadav Sweet House in Mohammadpur as well, extreme filth, insects and rat droppings were found. Dirty water had accumulated on the floor, and food material was kept at the same spot. Dirty water draining from the deep freezer was also present on the premises. Sweets were being stored in this very deep freezer with the dirty water. A foul smell was spread across the entire premises. In Ayodhya, eight teams inspected 18 units, took 14 samples and issued 13 improvement notices.
18 food units inspected in Prayagraj
In Prayagraj, eight FSDA teams inspected 18 food business units. During this, 14 food samples were collected and 15 improvement notices were issued for irregularities. The license of no unit was suspended here.
Strict action continues against neglect of food safety standards
Through the "Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai" campaign, the FSDA is ensuring compliance with hygiene and safety standards across the entire process of manufacturing, storage and sale of food items, in addition to their quality. Department teams are checking the cleanliness of manufacturing sites, safe storage of raw material, keeping ready-made food items off the floor, pest control, drainage, and the use of approved food-grade substances.
Where quality iasues were found, the department is issuing improvement notices to businesses and directing them to ensure arrangements in line with the prescribed standards. Meanwhile, stringent enforcement action, such as getting businesses shut down, is also being taken against establishments with serious irregularities and those that neglect food safety standards. This campaign will continue in the future as well, to make safe and quality food items available to the public during the festival season.
