Diwali 2025 Stay Alert: As India glows with the lights of Diwali, the festive spirit is unfortunately being shadowed by a growing menace of food adulteration. Every year, as the demand for sweets, ghee, khoya, and dry fruits surges, unscrupulous manufacturers take advantage of the rush to make quick profits. The result? Toxic, unhygienic, and adulterated sweets are flooding the market.
Diwali 2025 Stay Alert: This Diwali, multiple raids across India have exposed alarming quantities of unsafe sweets and edible products being prepared and sold. Below is a summary of the most recent crackdowns that reveal just how deep the issue runs.
Major Raids and Seizures Reported Across India
Diwali 2025 Stay Alert: Across the country, food safety teams have been working overtime to ensure what reaches your plate is safe to eat.
In Delhi, the Food Safety Department and local police jointly conducted multiple raids in Raghubir Nagar and Shastri Park after receiving complaints about the large-scale production of low-quality sweets ahead of Diwali. What they found was alarming: over 2,600 kilograms of sweets, including milk cake and kalakand, stored in unhygienic conditions. Workers were seen preparing sweets using non-standard ingredients in small, poorly ventilated rooms with no sanitation or quality checks in place. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
During the inspection, the officials discovered a banned chemical substance, sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate, which was being mixed to prolong the shelf life of the sweets. This chemical, often used in the textile and paper industries, is toxic when ingested and can cause severe damage to the liver, kidneys, and respiratory system. The discovery shocked authorities, as such chemicals are strictly prohibited in food processing under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
Following the raid, all contaminated sweets were confiscated, and samples were sent to a laboratory for testing. The factories were immediately sealed, and legal action was initiated against the owners for violating food safety laws. The Delhi Police also warned that unscrupulous sweet manufacturers exploit the festive demand each year, putting profits over public health, and urged consumers to buy sweets only from FSSAI-licensed outlets to avoid health hazards. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
In Noida and Ghaziabad, food safety officers carried out surprise inspections across several sweet shops and small-scale production units ahead of Diwali. During these raids, authorities discovered more than 1,100 kilograms of adulterated sweets that were being stored without proper refrigeration and were prepared using substandard ingredients such as synthetic milk and starch. The sweets emitted a foul odor, indicating they were unsafe for consumption. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
Further investigation led to the recovery of 145 kilograms of insect-infested rasgullas, found floating in dirty sugar syrup. Many of these items were ready to be distributed to local shops before the festive rush. Officials noted that several workers at these units lacked basic hygiene practices, and the premises were filled with flies and open waste bins, clear violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
Following the raids, all contaminated products were destroyed on-site under supervision, and notices were issued to the owners for running unlicensed operations. The Food Safety Department emphasized that such large-scale adulteration poses a serious public health risk and urged consumers to stay cautious, especially when buying loose or unpackaged sweets from roadside vendors during the festive season. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
In Bulandshahr, food safety officials carried out one of the largest raids of the festive season after receiving reports of large-scale adulteration in local sweet factories. During the inspection, they seized over 3,000 kilograms of rasgullas and 2,000 litres of synthetic milk that were being produced using starch, vegetable fat, and detergent-based whitening agents. The production units were found operating in cramped, unhygienic spaces with open drains, stagnant water, and no refrigeration conditions, entirely unfit for food preparation. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
In Lucknow, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) intensified its pre-Diwali inspections to curb the sale of unsafe food products. During a series of raids across local sweet shops and tofu manufacturing units, officials discovered 1,600 kilograms of sweets and 135 kilograms of tofu that had gone bad due to improper storage and use of spoiled milk. The sweets were found emitting a sour odor and showed visible signs of fungal growth, making them dangerous for human consumption. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
All contaminated products were immediately confiscated and destroyed on-site under the supervision of FSDA officers. The department also issued stern warnings to shop owners and producers found violating hygiene and labeling norms. Officials reminded consumers to remain vigilant during the festive season and to always purchase sweets and dairy products from verified, FSSAI-licensed shops, ensuring both quality and safety. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
In Shimla, the Food Safety Department conducted inspections across several sweet shops as part of its pre-Diwali vigilance drive. During these checks, officials seized 33 kilograms of spoiled sweets, including petha and gulab jamun, which were found to be stale and emitting a foul smell. The sweets had been stored without refrigeration, and flies and dust were visible around the trays, indicating poor hygiene and complete disregard for safety norms. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
Authorities immediately destroyed the contaminated sweets on-site and issued strict warnings to the shop owners. They emphasized that even small quantities of spoiled food can pose serious health risks and reiterated that every food business operator must comply with FSSAI hygiene and storage standards, especially during festivals when consumer demand is high and the temptation to cut corners is greatest. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
In Kolhapur, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) teams carried out a large-scale raid targeting ghee and edible oil suppliers ahead of the festive season. During the inspection, officials discovered adulterated ghee and cooking oils worth ₹5.5 lakh, which were being repackaged and sold under popular brand names. The seized stock was found to contain low-quality vegetable oil and chemical flavoring agents used to mimic the aroma and texture of pure ghee. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
The FDA officers sealed the premises and collected samples for laboratory testing, confirming that the products failed to meet the purity standards under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The department warned that such adulterated oils can cause severe digestive and cardiac problems if consumed regularly. Authorities have intensified market checks to ensure that fake or chemically treated ghee does not reach consumers during the Diwali rush. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
In Surat, food safety officers uncovered one of the largest adulteration rackets of the season, seizing nearly 10,000 kilograms of duplicate ghee during a surprise raid. The operation revealed that the so-called “pure ghee” was being produced using a blend of cheap vegetable oils, artificial essence, and chemical compounds designed to imitate the texture and aroma of real dairy ghee. The products were packed in containers resembling reputable brands, making it difficult for consumers to identify the fraud. Diwali 2025 Stay Alert:
Officials confirmed that the adulterated ghee posed a serious health risk, as continuous consumption of such chemical-laden products can lead to liver and heart complications. The entire stock was confiscated, and strict action was initiated against the factory owners under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Authorities also appealed to consumers to purchase ghee only from licensed retailers and trusted brands, especially during the high-demand Diwali period.
In Kannauj (Uttar Pradesh), police and food safety officials jointly raided a sweet manufacturing unit following reports of large-scale production of counterfeit sweets ahead of Diwali. During the operation, they seized over 3,000 kilograms of fake sweets that were being prepared using synthetic milk, artificial colors, and low-grade vegetable fats. The production area was found in a filthy condition, with open containers, unhygienic utensils, and no refrigeration facilities, clear violations of basic food safety norms.
As the raid began, the factory owner fled the scene, leaving behind workers and the adulterated stock. The entire consignment was seized, and samples were sent for laboratory testing. Authorities later confirmed that the sweets were unfit for human consumption and posed a potential health threat. The police have registered a case and launched a search for the absconding owner, warning that strict action will be taken against anyone involved in the manufacture or distribution of adulterated food products during the festive season.
These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a widespread food safety crisis that intensifies every festive season, risking public health in the name of sweetness and celebration.
Why You Should Be Concerned
Adulteration is not merely a violation of ethics; it is a serious criminal offence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Consuming such products can lead to liver, kidney, and digestive disorders, and prolonged exposure to chemicals like urea, detergents, or synthetic colors can even be carcinogenic.
The festive season witnesses a massive spike in demand for milk-based products, especially khoya and ghee, prompting many unlicensed units to use detergents, starch, and synthetic oils to imitate real ingredients. This endangers not only consumers but also the credibility of genuine sweet-makers.
How to Identify Fake or Adulterated Sweets
You don’t need a lab to check purity a few simple home tests can help:
- Iodine Test (for starch):
Dissolve a piece of the sweet (especially khoya) in warm water. Add a few drops of iodine.
If it turns blue or purple, it contains starch or flour instead of milk solids. - Detergent Foam Test:
Mix the sweet in water and shake it.
If foam appears, it indicates the presence of detergent or other harmful chemicals. - Silver Foil (Vark) Test:
Rub the silver foil gently between your fingers.
Real silver will disappear smoothly, while fake aluminium foil will crumble or form tiny balls. - Check Color, Smell, and Texture:
Brightly colored sweets, an artificial smell, or a sticky surface are all signs of chemical adulteration.
Smart Buyer Tips
Always purchase sweets from FSSAI-licensed or reputed outlets.
Ask for a receipt and check the manufacturing and expiry dates.
Avoid buying open or loosely packed sweets kept in dusty or uncovered areas.
If you suspect adulteration, immediately report it to the Food Safety Department or call the FSSAI Helpline: 1800-112-100.
Let this Diwali bring sweetness not sickness.”
As celebrations brighten homes across the country, let’s remember that true festivity lies in safety and well-being. Awareness is the first step toward prevention. Choose wisely, question openly, and share information with others.
At Legistra, we stand for awareness-driven legal empowerment. Understanding your rights and responsibilities, even in everyday matters like food safety, helps build a more responsible and healthier society.
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