The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Health and Food Department inspected 148 food stalls at 15 Garba venues on the first night of Navratri and found that 41 stalls did not have the required registration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The stall operators were registered on the spot after completing the necessary process.The inspections aimed to ensure compliance with hygiene, food quality and safety standards under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and its rules.North-West Zone records highest number of inspectionsIn the North-West Zone, officials inspected 81 food stalls at nine Garba venues, collected 18 food samples and tested 24 food items on the spot. Of the 81 stalls, 62 had FSSAI registration.
In the East Zone, 59 stalls at five Garba venues were inspected. Officials collected 19 food samples and tested 10 food items on the spot. Of these stalls, 37 had the required registration.In the West Zone, eight stalls at one Garba venue were inspected. Four food samples were collected and one food item was tested on the spot. All eight stalls had FSSAI registration.All 35 food items meet prescribed criteriaAccording to the civic body, officials tested 35 food items at the venues using TPC machines, and all were found to meet the prescribed criteria.
The inspection drive covered Garba venues in areas including Gota, Chandlodia, Ghatlodia, Vastrapur, Ramol, Vastral, Nikol and Vasna. The venues included Raslila Navratri, Maniyaro Garba, Vibrant Norta, Cultural Street Garba, Adhyashakti Garba, Pandal Garba, Krishnamay Raas, Karnavati’s Garba, Shyambag Raas Garba, Kesaria Tal, Leuva Patidar Yuva Sanghatana, Khodaldham Garba and Rock and Dhol.
The Health and Food Department has urged Garba organisers and food stall operators to maintain cleanliness during food preparation and serving, store food safely and ensure personal hygiene among staff.
The civic body said inspections would continue throughout Navratri and that action would be taken under the applicable law if violations of food safety regulations were found.