Gautam Buddh Nagar, February 28, 2026:
In view of the upcoming Holi festival, the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department of Gautam Buddh Nagar has intensified inspections across the district to ensure the availability of safe and pure food and beverages to residents. Acting on the directions of the District Magistrate, officials have launched a special enforcement drive targeting food establishments and retail outlets.
The department has been conducting raids and collecting food samples from various locations to verify compliance with prescribed safety and quality standards. The initiative aims to prevent the sale of adulterated or substandard food products, which typically see high demand during festive occasions such as Holi.
Providing details of the drive, Assistant Commissioner (Food) II Sarvesh Mishra stated that multiple teams of food safety officers carried out inspections at different locations across Noida and Greater Noida on Friday.
A team comprising Food Safety Officers Ravindra Nath Verma, Mukesh Kumar, and Vijay Bahadur Patel collected one sample of gujiya from Blinkit Store located in Sector 93, Noida. In a separate action, the same team collected one sample of ghee from Flipkart Instamart in the Omicron area of Greater Noida.
Another inspection team consisting of Food Safety Officers O.P. Singh and S.K. Pandey conducted checks at Zepto Store in Sector 75, Surfabad, Noida, from where two samples of gujiya were collected. The team also visited Zepto Store in Hoshiarpur, Noida, and collected two samples of paneer for laboratory testing.
In addition, Food Safety Officer Syed Ibadullah collected one sample of kaju barfi from a Zomato delivery personnel in Sector 14A, Noida. All the collected samples have been sealed and sent to the laboratory for detailed analysis.
In total, seven food samples were collected during the drive and dispatched for examination to ascertain their quality and adherence to food safety norms. The laboratory reports will determine whether the products meet the standards prescribed under food safety regulations.
Officials stated that sweets such as gujiya and kaju barfi, along with dairy products like ghee and paneer, witness increased consumption during Holi celebrations. Therefore, these items have been placed under special scrutiny to safeguard public health.
Assistant Commissioner Sarvesh Mishra further emphasized that the inspection campaign will continue in the coming days under the guidance of the District Magistrate. The department remains committed to taking strict action against any establishment found violating food safety standards.
He added that ensuring the availability of safe and standard-quality food products for residents is a top priority for the administration. Continuous monitoring, surprise inspections, and sample collection drives will be conducted to prevent adulteration and protect consumers.
The department has appealed to citizens to purchase food items from authorized and reputed outlets and to report any suspicion of adulteration or irregularities to the concerned authorities. Consumers are also advised to check packaging details, manufacturing dates, and quality certifications before making purchases.
With Holi festivities approaching, the administration aims to maintain strict vigilance across the district to ensure that celebrations are not marred by health risks arising from unsafe food consumption. Further action will be initiated based on laboratory findings once the test reports are received.
