Vadodara civic body seizes 13,200 kg of expired sweets in surprise raid

Vadodara: A Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) team conducted a major raid on Thursday, seizing 13,200 kg of expired sweets from a unit in the Khodiyar Nagar area. The action followed repeated complaints about the sale of inedible food items in the city.

During a surprise inspection at Plot No. 65, Brahmanagar, officials raided a sweet manufacturing unit named Lovely Sweets, owned by Jitendra Harishankar Prasad. The inspection revealed a large stock of sweets that had crossed their expiry dates. The seized stock included approximately 8,000 kg of confectionery “pandas,” 2,500 kg of barfi, 700 kg of laddus, 700 kg of katri, and 1,300 kg of other assorted sweets. The total value of the seized goods was estimated at around ₹7.5 lakh, enough to fill three trucks.

Food safety officers immediately confiscated the entire stock and transported it to the Jambuva landfill site, where it was destroyed. Officials said the action has sent a strong message to traders involved in selling substandard and unsafe food products.

The raid comes after the issue of inedible food being sold in the city was repeatedly raised, including in coordination committee meetings attended by local MLAs. Officials stated that enforcement drives will now be intensified.

Expired Sweets Found During Panipuri Inspection

Interestingly, the food department team had initially reached the Khodiyar Nagar area to inspect panipuri vendors. However, suspecting irregularities at Lovely Sweets, they extended the inspection to the premises, leading to the discovery of the expired stock.

During the preliminary inquiry, the owner claimed that the sweets had been prepared during Diwali and were meant to be discarded. However, since the stock was found to be unfit for consumption, officials immediately ordered its disposal. Authorities also indicated that such expired products could potentially be diverted for sale in rural areas, making strict action necessary. The disposal operation continued throughout the day. DeshGujarat