Breaking: Eatery vendors raided at Carnival; FSO warns of no compromise on food quality
Harish Monga
Ferozepur (Punjab), September 19, 2026: The Food Safety Wing carried out a special checking drive late into the night at the ongoing Carnivall Mela in Ferozepur, aimed at ensuring clean and safe food for the public, said Abhinav Khosla, Food Safety Officer.
During the drive, teams inspected various food stalls and eateries set up at the fair. Coloured cotton candy was removed and destroyed on the spot, while other food items found to be substandard or containing suspicious colours were also taken off sale.
Stall operators were issued necessary instructions on food safety, including preparing and storing food hygienically, keeping it covered, and serving only safe food to consumers — a directive issued keeping in mind the large number of children and families who visit such fairs.
The team also checked food stalls near the ring games at the mela, where some substandard food products were removed. Dirty and unhygienely stored chutney was also confiscated and destroyed, and strict instructions on cleanliness were issued to the vendors concerned.
Separately, the Food Safety Wing conducted a special inspection of dhabas located at Baaz Wala Chowk, during which several lapses relating to cleanliness and hygiene came to light.
Dhaba operators have been directed to rectify the hygiene deficiencies within two days, failing which challans and further action will be initiated against them under the food safety law.
The Food Safety Wing said no compromise would be made with public health at fairs, dhabas or other food outlets, and that such checking drives would continue. The team added that it has been regularly conducting checks and raids across Ferozepur district, and warned that no one, found compromising on the quality of goods sold at the cost of citizens' health, would be spared.