The Delhi government's Food Safety Department has found hygiene and food-handling lapses at several sweet manufacturing units and shops across the national capital during inspections carried out ahead of the festive season, when demand for sweets rises sharply, ANI reported on Wednesday. Officials also collected food samples from multiple establishments for laboratory testing.

Inspections at various sweet establishments revealed issues related to cleanliness, food storage, pest control and compliance with safety standards, ANI said. Insects and signs of pest activity were found in some storage areas, while employees at a sweet house were seen handling food without gloves. Teams also flagged missing FSSAI licence displays, inadequate food-handler training, improper labelling and a lack of required testing records at several establishments.

Samples of khoya, rasbhari, barfi, milk cake, boondi laddoos, kaju bites and other food items were collected from shops across Delhi, including Chandni Chowk, Narela, Naraina and Okhla. The Hindu, citing the Chief Minister's Office, reported that departmental teams inspected sweet manufacturers and related establishments across the capital and collected samples as part of enforcement and surveillance activities, and that further action will be taken based on the laboratory test reports.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the government would not compromise on public health during festive celebrations, stressing that food businesses must follow hygiene standards and ensure safe storage, proper handling and quality of food products. "There will be no compromise on citizens' health amid festive celebrations," she said, according to The Hindu. The department is also conducting a wider enforcement drive in the capital on the Chief Minister's directions, under which warehouses and dark stores operated by e-commerce and quick-commerce companies were inspected earlier and samples of various brands of desi ghee sold in markets were tested. (Sources: ANI, via LatestLY and Indian Economic Observer, October 21, 2026; The Hindu, October 21, 2026, via the Chief Minister's Office statement)