Bhubaneswar: With Rakhi Purnima drawing crowds to sweet shops, the food safety authorities conducted inspections at various establishments in Bhubaneswar to verify the quality of food items and ascertain whether hygienic norms were maintained at the outlets.
According to sources, food safety enforcement teams of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) carried out raids at several sweet shops in different parts of the city, including Surya Nagar, Jagamara, Delta Square and Siripur areas.
Officials checked the quality of ingredients, preparation areas, storage refrigerators and other facilities. Shopkeepers found violating food safety norms were fined and warned.
During the crackdown, it was found that sweets were being prepared in unhygienic conditions at some establishments. Serious lapses in hygiene and food safety standards were found at some outlets and officials seized stale food, expired ingredients and sweets stored in unhygienic conditions.
While one sweet shop was fined Rs 5,000, another faced a penalty of Rs 6,000 for violation of food safety norms, sources said.