Gautam Buddh Nagar, March 20, 2026:
With the upcoming Chaitra Navratri festival approaching, the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department in Gautam Buddh Nagar has launched an intensified inspection drive to ensure the availability of pure and safe food and beverages for residents of the district. Acting on the directions of the District Magistrate, departmental officials have begun conducting raids and collecting food samples from various establishments for laboratory testing.
Assistant Commissioner (Food) Sarvesh Mishra said the campaign is being carried out as a precautionary measure to maintain food quality standards during the festive season, when the consumption of fasting-related food items increases significantly. The objective of the drive is to prevent the sale of adulterated or substandard food products and to protect consumers during Navratri.
As part of the inspection campaign, a team of Food Safety Officers O.P. Singh and S.K. Pandey collected samples from several food outlets in Noida. One sample of sabudana was taken from Kitchen Fresh Grocery Store located in Sector 40, Noida. Another sample, this time of special vrat laddoo, was collected from K.C. General Store in Gali No. 2, Aghapur, Sector 41.
The inspection team also collected one sample of namkeen from Guldana Sweets, located at Cleo Street, Sector 121, Noida. In addition, a sample of kuttu flour was taken from VIP Atta Chakki in Gali No. 1, Garhi Chaukhandi, Noida.
In a separate inspection, another team comprising Food Safety Officers Amar Bahadur Saroj and Ritu Saxena collected one more sample of kuttu atta from Shiv Store in Sector 22 Chaura, Noida.
Officials said that a total of five food samples were collected during the drive and have been sent to the laboratory for testing. The results of these tests will determine whether the food items meet prescribed safety and quality standards under the Food Safety Act.
Along with sample collection, all food vendors and sellers were issued strict instructions regarding compliance with food safety norms. They were directed to procure food materials only from licensed or registered suppliers under the Food Safety Act. Vendors were also told to ensure that they obtain proper purchase invoices for all food items.
Officials further instructed sellers to carefully check details such as the manufacturing date, batch number, and related labeling information before purchasing stock and offering it for sale to consumers. The department emphasized that food items should only be sold after proper verification to avoid any risk to public health.
Sarvesh Mishra said similar inspection drives will continue in the district under the direction of the District Magistrate. He stated that the department will keep collecting samples and conducting checks to ensure that residents receive food and beverages that conform to prescribed standards during the festive period.
The ongoing action is part of a broader effort to maintain strict vigilance over food quality in Gautam Buddh Nagar, especially during major festivals when the demand for special food items rises sharply. Authorities said the campaign is intended to build consumer confidence and discourage any attempt to sell adulterated or unsafe food products in the district.
