Ahmedabad: AMC cracks down on unhygienic food, flags coloured panipuri samples

Ahmedabad: Between May 1 and May 18, the health department of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) collected 184 samples of panipuri from various stalls and carts across the city. Upon testing, 34 samples were found to contain prohibited food-grade colour. Consequently, action was taken to seize these stalls and carts. The banned food-grade colour poses health risks, said an AMC official.

On the night of May 15, a young woman ate panipuri from a cart in front of the Ranip bus terminus, where a bone was found in the panipuri. Following the incident, the corporation fined the cart owner Rs 10,000 and seized the cart.

Between May 1 and May 18, the corporation inspected 865 units across different areas of the city. Notices were issued to 522 units for violations, including unhygienic conditions. Additionally, 905 kilograms of inedible food and 1,028 litres of inedible liquid were destroyed. Samples from 572 food units were collected and sent to the public health laboratory for testing. Moreover, the health department seized 2,500kg of suspected turmeric, 1,400kg of cashews, 99kg of spoiled milk solids, and 219kg of paneer/medium-fried paneer/cream. Seven units were sealed for violating hygiene and related regulations.

During the period, 22 food samples collected from various units across the city were declared non-compliant, with seven samples found unsafe. According to AMC, a sample of oil from Shefayr Food India Limited in Nikol was declared unsafe. Two samples of cow ghee from Murlidhar Food Products in Nikol were also found unsafe. A sample of turmeric from Avinash Masala godown in Madhupura, a mango milkshake sample from Murlidhar Ice Cream parlour in Shahibaug, and a chilli powder sample from Jaymataji Traders near Delhi Darwaza were declared unsafe. A sample of ghee from Girdhar Dairy in Khokhra was also found unsafe.