MCD steps up checks after Ahmedabad food poisoning

New Delhi: Following the deaths of two minor girls in Ahmedabad’s Chandkheda area, allegedly linked to the consumption of readymade dosa batter, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has intensified scrutiny of food safety and regulatory compliance across the national capital.

The Ahmedabad incident, which claimed the lives of a three-month-old infant and her four-year-old sister while leaving their parents hospitalised, has raised serious concerns about the safety of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food products.

While the family has blamed contaminated batter sourced from a local dairy, police have said all angles are being probed, particularly as the infant could not have consumed the food. Authorities are awaiting viscera reports to ascertain the exact cause of death.

Against this backdrop, MCD’s public health department has intensified its focus on eating establishments in the city, with officials on Tuesday reviewing food safety, licensing and compliance.

According to a senior MCD official, all zonal district health officers (DHOs) have been directed to submit detailed status reports on eating establishments operating without mandatory fire safety clearances, including prominent chains and particularly those that have obtained stay orders from Delhi High Court against coercive action. The DHOs are making presentations on health trade licences issued during 2025-26, alongside a review of FSSAI registration, health trade policies and enforcement guidelines.

Officials also discussed the status of licensed and unlicensed spas operating in various zones and deliberated on the growing concern of food adulteration and its wider public health implications — an issue that has gained urgency following the Ahmedabad episode.

“There is no need for panic. This appears to be an isolated incident, but we do not want such a situation to arise in Delhi. As a precaution, additional checks and monitoring are being carried out to ensure public safety,” the senior official told TOI.

“Field teams have been asked to remain extra vigilant. We are strengthening enforcement and compliance mechanisms so that citizens can feel assured about the safety standards being maintained,” he added.