UPFSDA inspection reveals satifactory outcome of the campaign
Earlier sweeta were being made in unhygienic conditions, awareness of food safety standards has now increased
Ahead of Deepawali, the department inspected 29 establishments in the capital and issued 18 improvement notices
Food Safety and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Roshan Jacob expresses satisfaction over the campaign's impact in Lucknow
Lucknow, October 2026 : The impact of the "Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai" campaign being run in Uttar Pradesh is now becoming visible in sweets and namkeen (savoury snack) manufacturing establishments. During the special inspection drive conducted in Lucknow by the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), Uttar Pradesh, food business operators showed growing awareness of food safety standards and a cooperative attitude toward the inspection teams. Whereas serious shortcomings in cleanliness and safe food production had earlier been seen in sweet-making units, this time many establishments showed improvement compared to before.
In view of the Deepawali festival, FSDA teams inspected major sweets and namkeen manufacturing establishments in Lucknow. The action was carried out on the basis of the standards laid down in the regulatory inspection guidelines for the sweets and namkeen sector issued by the Food Safety Department. Under the campaign, a total of 29 establishments were inspected. Where deficiencies were found, 18 improvement notices were issued, while 19 samples of food items were collected. The inspection checked premises cleanliness, quality of raw materials, safe storage of food items, personal hygiene of food handlers, use of food colours, packaging, and licensing provisions.
Establishments inspected
The establishments covered by the inspection included Chhappan Bhog, Better Story, Brij Gajanan Bhog, Siyaram Sweets, Rajasthan Wala, Raj Sweets, Mahesh, Mansarovar, Laxmiram, Keshav Sweets, Shyam Swad, Kanchan Sweets, Mahapadmanand Sweets, Parampara, Subhash D. Mithai, Madhurima, Mahalakshmi, Mohan Sweets, Moti Mahal, Kevalam, Kaleva, Radhelal, Hazelnut, Neelkanth Sweets, Ganpat Sweets, Rajlakshmi and Amrapali, among other establishments.
From cleanliness to banned colours: what all was checked
During the inspection, special attention was paid in sweets and namkeen manufacturing units to the cleanliness of floors, walls, equipment and utensils, adequate ventilation, drainage, waste disposal, and measures for protection against flies, cockroaches, rats and birds. Also examined were the quality of milk, mawa, chhena, gram flour (besan), refined flour (maida), sugar, oil, ghee, dry fruits and spices, along with separate storage of raw and prepared food items and arrangements to keep perishable items at suitable temperatures. The inspection also checked the use of permitted food colours and additives in sweets and namkeen, the possible presence of banned industrial dyes such as Rhodamine-B and Metanil Yellow, and the quality of frying oil. In addition, the shelf life of food items, "best before" and "use by" date information on sweets, the quality of silver leaf (varq), and the standards of packaging materials were also tested. Food business operators' FSSAI licences, purchase bills for raw materials, supplier details, drinking water quality, medical fitness certificates of food handlers, and other required records were also checked.
Immediate corrective action where deficiencies were found
During the inspection, at the sweet-making unit of Mahesh Namkeen Private Limited, Nadarganj, the cleanliness was found to be better, but deficiencies in cleanliness and storage were found in the namkeen manufacturing area. Pigeons and cobwebs were also found on the premises. In view of this, namkeen production has been prohibited until the necessary improvements are made. Production can be restarted only after improvements in line with the standards. Meanwhile, at Gayatri Mishthan Bhandar, Ashiana, the drainage system and floor cleanliness were found unsatisfactory. A notice is being issued to the establishment to correct these deficiencies.
Monitoring of food safety standards at retail shops too
Under the campaign, compliance with rules on displaying "use by" dates on sweets and on packaging materials was also checked at retail establishments. During the inspection, attention was also paid to key points such as safe handling of food items, keeping raw and cooked food separate, the quality of milk and dairy products, and storage at prescribed temperatures. In the departmental inspection, improvement was seen in compliance with these points and several other regulatory provisions compared to before. This makes it clear that efforts to make food business operators more responsible toward safe food production through regular monitoring, inspection and corrective action are proving effective.
Positive results of "Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai" campaign: Dr. Roshan Jacob
Dr. Roshan Jacob, Secretary and Commissioner of the Food Safety and Drug Administration, expressed satisfaction over the campaign's impact in Lucknow and said that earlier, extremely poor conditions had been seen during inspections of halwai (sweet-maker) establishments. At many places, problems such as water flowing on the premises, lack of hygiene and cleanliness, and absence of health precautions related to infectious diseases had come to light. These conditions have now improved considerably. Awareness of cleanliness and food safety standards has increased among food business operators, which is a positive outcome of the "Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai" campaign. According to Dr. Roshan Jacob, the atmosphere during inspections in Lucknow this time was also more cooperative than before. The inspection teams received cooperation in various units, including large establishments, and food business operators participated actively in the inspections. This change shows that efforts to link food safety with the responsibility of business operators and public participation, rather than limiting it to departmental action, are proving effective.
A positive step toward food safety in the public interest
The aim of the "Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai" campaign is not merely to act against irregularities, but also to develop a lasting culture of cleanliness, quality and safe food production among food business operators. The improvement seen during the inspections in Lucknow and the cooperation received by the teams are an important indication in this direction. With demand for sweets and namkeen rising during a major festival like Deepawali, this initiative is important for ensuring consumers have access to safe food items.
