Shatrughn Prasad
Deoghar
The Food Safety Department is continuously conducting an intensive inspection and checking campaign during the Shravani Mela-2026. The objective is to ensure the availability of safe, clean and quality food items for devotees and general consumers.
In this sequence, about 25 peda shops were inspected today in the Ghormara area. During the inspection, shopkeepers were given necessary directions to safely maintain bills and required documents related to the purchase of peda and khoya, and to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act. Shops inspected in the Ghormara area included Maa Ganga Peda Bhandar, Lalit Peda Bhandar, Priyanka Peda Bhandar, Sudha Peda Bhandar, Guddu Peda Bhandar, Om Peda Bhandar and others.
It was also observed that operators of some peda shops in the Ghormara area try to avoid inspection by closing their shops when the food safety team arrives. Such operators have been strictly warned that if they attempt to evade inspection by shutting their shops in future, the concerned peda shops will be sealed and further action will be taken as per rules.
Almost all the peda shops inspected were found to have FSSAI food licence/registration under the Food Safety and Standards Act. Those shops that did not have the licence/registration were directed to obtain FSSAI food licence/registration at the earliest. During the inspection, two legal samples of peda were collected from Sukhadi Mandal, Ghormara and Shri Govardhan, Ghormara, and sent to the laboratory for testing. Further action will be taken after the test report is received.
Meanwhile, about 18 eateries were inspected in the ISBT Baghmara bus stand area. Major establishments inspected included Hotel Raj Priyansh, Anurag Hotel, Ganpati Bhojanalay and Mishtaan, and Hotel Swastik and Family Restaurant. During the inspection, on-the-spot checks were carried out on sauces, pickles, spices, papad and edible oils etc.
Two samples of turmeric were confirmed to be adulterated. Consequently, a total of 3 kg of adulterated turmeric from two different shops was destroyed on the spot. Establishments where irregularities were found included Hotel Raj Priyansh and Anurag Hotel.
Awareness was also emphasised among the operators of food establishments during the inspection so that the possibility of any kind of food poisoning can be reduced to zero.
