A routine food safety inspection by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) found industrial-grade dye in vegetable gravy served at a food outlet in Rakhial, raising concerns about unsafe food practices in the city.
The AMC’s Food Department collected a sample of vegetable gravy from Jai Ambe Bhojanalay near Patel Mill in Rakhial. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of a non-food-grade dye, and the sample was declared unsafe. The civic body will now take legal action against the eatery under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Additional Health Officer (in charge) Dr. Tejas Shah said only approved food-grade colours are allowed in certain food items, fruit juices and milkshakes. However, some food businesses continue to use cheaper industrial dyes, putting public health at risk.
He said the department regularly collects food samples from across the city for laboratory testing and takes action against those found violating food safety rules.
Action Against More Food Businesses
The AMC will also prosecute another food outlet for selling unsafe food. In addition, cases will be filed against 44 businesses whose food samples failed to meet quality standards.
June Inspection Drive
During June, food safety teams inspected 1,877 food establishments across Ahmedabad and collected 709 samples of products such as soft drinks, spices, milk and dairy products, sweets, bakery items, snacks, edible oils, ghee, butter and paneer.
The inspection drive led to the issuance of 545 notices for food safety violations. Officials also destroyed 2,748 kg of food items and 1,269 litres of liquid food products found unfit for consumption. Administrative charges worth Rs 10.29 lakh were recovered from violators.
Cooking Oil Checks and Illegal Unit Sealed
Food inspectors conducted 387 Total Polar Compound (TPC) tests to check the quality of cooking oil used by sweet shops and snack manufacturers. However, the AMC did not reveal whether any action was taken against businesses that failed these tests.
Acting on a tip-off, the Food Department sealed Vrushti Trading in Kathwada after seizing 450 kg of packaged lime used in pan masala. Officials said the unit was operating without a licence and manufacturing the product in violation of food safety rules. Another 508 kg of refined cottonseed oil was also seized during the enforcement drive.
Substandard Food Samples
Several food samples collected from different parts of Ahmedabad were declared substandard. These included turmeric powder from two shops in Sarkhej and Saraspur, along with jamun ice cream, kesar shrikhand, cloves, khoya, butter, muska and paneer.