» Kangra food safety checks find 13 failed samples

Food Safety Department increases inspections of sweets and other food products during the festive season

The North News
October 7, 2026, 18:58
2 mins
Dharamshala

Kangra food safety drive finds 11 substandard samples

Food Safety Department officials are conducting checks and sampling of food products during the festive season in Kangra. TNN Photo: Rahul Chawla

The Food Safety Department has intensified monitoring of sweet manufacturers and other food businesses in Kangra district during the festive season, with sampling and inspections of food products continuing across the district.

The department has instructed sweet manufacturers to maintain proper hygiene, use quality raw materials and ensure that only FSSAI-approved colours are used in prescribed quantities, according to Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Kangra, Dr Savita Thakur.

Sampling and inspections of khoya, paneer, curd, sweets and other food products will continue during the festive season, the department said.

During the current financial year, the department has collected 276 surveillance samples and 165 legal samples from across the district, including municipal corporation areas. Reports for some of the samples are still awaited.

Of the samples for which reports have been received, 13 were found to have failed, including 11 substandard samples and two misbranded samples, according to the department.

The food business operators concerned have been issued notices under FSSAI Rule 2.4.6 in connection with the failed samples. They have been given 30 days and can have their samples tested at a referral laboratory during this period, the department said.

Further action will be taken in accordance with the applicable rules after the stipulated process is completed.

In cases involving registered food businesses, compounding action may be initiated under Section 69, while cases involving licensed food businesses will be referred to the Additional District Magistrate (ADM), according to the department.

The department said monitoring of food products would continue throughout the festive season, with particular attention to commonly consumed items such as khoya, paneer, curd and sweets.

The food safety authorities have also reiterated the need for manufacturers to maintain cleanliness and use appropriate raw materials and permitted food colours within prescribed limits.