Raipur’s Food and Drug Administration has suspended the food licences of four establishments after inspections found dead cockroaches, insects and hair among sweets, along with fungus and cobwebs in syrup. Officials destroyed about 150kg of sweets and 10kg of paneer, seized another 50kg of suspected paneer and sent 12 food samples for laboratory testing.
The inspections covered three sweet shops in Telibandha and a dhaba at Pachpedi Naka. The FDA found hygiene and storage violations across all four establishments, including exposed ingredients, dirty preparation areas and poorly maintained food-handling spaces.
At one sweet shop, inspectors found peeling wall paint, old sweets crammed into a freezer and ingredients kept uncovered. Another outlet had fungus and cobwebs in syrup, while dead cockroaches and insects were found among sweets. A third shop had insects in chamcham stored in a dirty cold-storage area. Inspectors also noted tobacco-spitting marks on the stairs and food ingredients left exposed.
The kitchen and utensil-washing area at the dhaba were found to be dirty, while its idli-making machines were in poor condition. Officials separately seized around 50kg of paneer after suspecting that its quality needed examination.
The 12 samples collected by the inspection team included khoya, kunda, paneer, boondi, besan laddoos, kalakand and chhena-based sweets. The samples have been sent for laboratory testing, with results expected within 14 days. Further legal action will be considered after the reports are received, officials said.
The four establishments have been ordered to remain closed for at least three days and to correct deficiencies related to hygiene, preparation and storage. They must submit compliance reports to the FDA before reopening. The suspension period may be extended if the shortcomings continue.
The inspections come as demand for sweets and dairy products rises during the festive season, increasing the volume of food prepared, stored and sold across the city. Consumers have been advised to report unhygienic conditions or suspected unsafe food to the FDA. The next formal step in the case will depend on the laboratory findings and the establishments’ compliance reports.
