In a bid to ensure the quality of sweets in the time of Diwali, the Delhi government has launched a special drive to keep strict vigilance on the sale of Khoya or Mawa which is widely used in making most Indian sweets.

The Delhi Government has deputed six enforcement teams to prevent the sale of spurious Khoya if necessary. “The government is strictly monitoring and inspecting the premises of various food businesses related to the sale of sweets for hygienic processing. Around 1,30,000 food business operators have been sent emails along with attached awareness materials on Covid-19 appropriate behaviour and food handling during festive seasons and check on common adulterants in sweets,” the government said in a statement.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said, "The Delhi government is very serious about the health of people of Delhi. “We are keeping a vigil on the sale of Khoa or Mawa as these are used to prepare sweets, which are in high demand during Diwali," he said.

So far the food and food safety department has successfully conducted five enforcement raids to prevent the sale of spurious Khoya by forming various teams of food safety officers at Koya Mandi Auction site, Mori Gate the place from where the Khoya is distributed all over Delhi, it said.

The department has lifted 25 formal samples from various sellers at Khoya Mandi and lifted188 Surveillance samples for the on the spot testing through ‘Food Safety on Wheels’ (a mobile Food Testing Van) and about 3200kg of spurious Khoya was seized and destroyed, it added.

“The department is also strictly monitoring and inspecting the premises of various food businesses related to the sale of sweets for hygienic processing/preparation of the sweets and to keep an eye to prevent the sale of any adulterated sweets to the consumers,” it added.

Apart from these activities Department is actively participating in creating the awareness regarding the Covid-19 and rigorous ‘Information Education Communication’ (IEC) campaign has been launched by the department to make ‘Food Business Operators’ as well as the general public about the social behaviours to be adopted to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Besides, approx 1,30,000 food business operators have been sent emails along with attached awareness materials on Covid-19 appropriate behaviour and food handling during festive seasons and check on common adulterants in sweets, it said, adding that in the past department has also organized 10 webinars for proper food handling during covid-19 for different kinds of food businesses and their queries were also resolved online.