Liking for sweets remains unadulterated

LUCKNOW: With the recent reports of widespread menace of adulteration in food products, especially `khoya' and `milk', it was expected people would think twice before buying sweets. However, the city sweets shops did brisk business in the run up to Diwali, with customers buying the gift packs by the dozen.
Jatin Ahuja, owner of a popular sweets shop in the city said, "There has been an increase in the demand of sweets during the festival this year.''
Sweets continue to remain the most accepted gift for the business firms planning to distribute sweets to their employees. However, some shopkeepers feel that reports about adulterated food items have made the common man hesitate before buying sweets.
This year some of the mouth-watering delicacies on offer have left the customers asking for more. For example, `Meva vite', an exclusive variety, is available in three flavours -- chocolate, orange and dry fruits. Highly in demand, a kg of this sweet delicacy costs Rs 500.
Dry fruits and chocolates were also in demand. Abhijeet Sarkar, salesman at a sweets shop said, "Responding to the needs of the customers, chocolates and dry fruits are now available in the brass tray, making it more of a utility item." A box in the shape of a suitcase filled with dry fruits is also being liked by the customers. Sweets such as `kaju katli', `boondi ke laddu', `rasgullas' remained the favourite of masses.
Interestingly, despite the adulteration mostly found in `khoya' items, it topped the sales. `Khoya mix' and `Kesar ghujiya' were quick to vanish from the counter. An approximate figure revealed that the sale of khoya items has rather doubled when compared to the last year.