Food safety authorities in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, have intensified inspections of dairy establishments, sweet shops and namkeen manufacturers ahead of Diwali to ensure the availability of safe and hygienic food products during the festive season. During a special inspection drive conducted on Friday and Saturday, officials examined 15 establishments across Indore and Betma and collected 54 food samples for laboratory testing.
The initiative aims to identify potential food safety violations, assess the quality of products sold to consumers and ensure compliance with prescribed hygiene and food handling standards. According to an official release, the collected samples will be sent to the State Food Laboratory in Bhopal for testing. Further regulatory action will be determined after the laboratory reports are received.
The inspection drive covered several dairy-based products, including paneer, mawa, milk cake, peda and different varieties of milk-based sweets, alongside traditional namkeen products.
Dairy Products and Traditional Sweets Under Food Safety Inspection
On Friday, food safety officials inspected seven establishments across Indore and Betma. At Pooja Dairy Sweets and Namkeen in Vidur Nagar, samples of paneer and mawa were collected for quality assessment.
Officials also inspected Padam Shri Sweets and Namkeen in Kali Billore, Betma, where samples of milk cake, paneer and malai barfi were collected. During the inspection, authorities identified deficiencies and decided to issue an improvement notice to the establishment.
At Shri Ram Sweets and Namkeen in Betma, five samples, including milk cake, peda, kesar peda, khopra pak and doodh katli, were collected. The establishment’s operator was instructed to maintain cleanliness and follow the required hygiene practices during food preparation and storage.
Other establishments covered during the first day included Navkar Ke Namkeen in Betma, Raju Khandelwal Namkeen Bhandar in Banganga, Gaurav Restaurant on Sanwer Road and Siddhivinayak Dairy Sweets and Namkeen in Bhagat Singh Nagar.
Samples collected from these businesses included sev, mixture, different namkeen varieties, peda, gupchup, besan laddu, malai barfi, milk cake and malai tikiya.
Eight More Establishments Covered During the Second Day
The inspection programme continued on Saturday, covering another eight establishments across different parts of Indore.
The establishments inspected included Aarambh Sweets and Namkeen and Gupta Sweets in Rani Bagh, Maa Ambe Doodh Dahi Bhandar in Nipania, Mamta Sweets, Milan Sweets and Namkeen in New Gauri Nagar, Shri Ganga Doodh Dairy and Sweets in Mirzapur, Fakhri Sweets and Farsan in Khatiwala Tank, and Paliwal Sweets and Namkeen in Musakhedi.
Authorities collected food samples from these establishments as part of the broader effort to assess product quality and ensure compliance with food safety regulations.
The inspections focused on the conditions under which food products were prepared, stored and sold. Officials also examined cleanliness, the handling of raw materials and compliance with prescribed food safety requirements.
Hygiene and Quality Standards Remain a Priority for Dairy Businesses
Dairy products require particular attention to hygiene and storage conditions because milk and milk-based foods can be vulnerable to microbial contamination when handled or stored improperly.
Products such as paneer, mawa, milk cake and milk-based sweets require appropriate processing, temperature management and hygienic handling throughout the production and distribution chain.
Contaminated raw materials, inadequate refrigeration, unclean equipment and poor personal hygiene can increase food safety risks and affect product quality and shelf life.
During the inspection drive, food business operators were instructed to use safe raw materials, prevent contamination and maintain personal hygiene during food preparation, handling and storage.
Laboratory Testing to Determine Further Regulatory Action
The 54 samples collected during the two-day drive will undergo laboratory analysis at the State Food Laboratory in Bhopal. The results will help authorities determine whether the tested products comply with applicable food quality and safety requirements.
Where violations are established, further action may be taken in accordance with food safety regulations. The improvement notice issued to Padam Shri Sweets and Namkeen also demonstrates the administration’s approach towards addressing deficiencies identified during inspections.
The special drive highlights the importance of food safety monitoring during periods of increased demand for dairy products and traditional sweets.
For India’s dairy industry, maintaining quality standards across milk procurement, processing, storage and retail distribution is essential to protecting consumers and strengthening confidence in dairy-based products. Regular inspections, laboratory testing and improved hygiene practices remain important measures in ensuring safe food availability, particularly during major festivals such as Diwali.