The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) collected ₹11.61 lakh in administrative charges during April 2025 as part of a sweeping food safety enforcement drive across the city, inspecting 2,153 food business units, issuing 498 notices, and destroying 1,015 kg and 1,148 litres of unsafe food. The drive, conducted under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, resulted in the sealing of at least 12 establishments for violations ranging from unlicensed operations to the presence of live insects in kitchens.

Scale of Inspections and Sampling

According to the AMC Health Department, the Food Department carried out inspections across all zones of Ahmedabad between 1 April and 30 April 2025. A total of 933 samples were collected from a wide range of food categories, including 101 samples of paneer, 133 samples of milk and milk products, 96 samples of spices, and 74 samples of cold beverages such as juice, lassi, ice cream, sherbet, and ice gola.

Other sampled categories included 45 samples of sugarcane juice, mango milkshake, and watermelon juice; 49 samples of panipuri water, puri, potato mixture, and ragda; 47 samples of non-vegetarian products; 24 samples of sweets; 29 samples of namkeen; 21 samples of pulses, flour, rice, and grains; 14 samples of edible oil; and 23 samples of bakery products. Additionally, 367 Total Plate Count tests were conducted to assess microbiological food quality. Of all samples collected, 40 were declared substandard, and action was initiated against the respective food business operators under applicable law.

Establishments Sealed During the Drive

Enforcement action was taken against multiple outlets across the city throughout April. On 6 April, Bhairavnath Punjabi Tadka in Vastral was sealed for operating without a food safety licence, using paneer analogue in place of paneer, and maintaining unhygienic conditions. A day later, Punjab Di Mahak in Navrangpura was sealed after insects were discovered on the premises.

On 8 April, Janata Mutton and Chicken Center in Amraiwadi was sealed for unhygienic conditions. Shree Jalaram Parotha House in Saijpur was sealed on 9 April for operating without a licence and using paneer analogue, with a second outlet of the same establishment in Gota sealed on 11 April for similar hygiene violations.

On 10 April, Vraj Dairy in Nana Chiloda was sealed after inspectors found it manufacturing paneer analogue and selling it as genuine paneer — a form of food misrepresentation. Jay Jay Shrinathji Chavana Bhandar in Bapunagar was sealed on 13 April after expired food items and unhygienic conditions were found. Patel Dairy in Saijpur Bogha and Shree Umiya Dudh Ghar in Bapunagar were sealed on 15 April and 21 April respectively for comparable violations.

On 24 April, Tasty Thrills LLP (RP's Pizzeria) in Navrangpura was sealed after live and dead insects were found inside a deep freezer in the kitchen. A butter manufacturing unit in Shahpur was sealed on 27 April for operating without a licence and failing to meet regulatory requirements. The drive concluded with the sealing of Profi-C Food and Beverages (Barbeque World) in Ambawadi on 30 April, where live insects were discovered inside a kitchen refrigerator.

Paneer Adulteration Emerges as Key Concern

A recurring theme across the enforcement action was the substitution of paneer with paneer analogue — a cheaper, non-dairy or partially dairy-based product — and its sale under the guise of genuine paneer. At least three establishments were sealed specifically for this violation, reflecting a broader adulteration pattern that authorities say is under heightened scrutiny. This comes amid growing national concern over dairy product adulteration, with food safety regulators across several states ramping up checks on milk and paneer supply chains.

What the AMC Said and What Comes Next

The AMC Health Department stated it would continue inspections in the coming days, with a specific focus on hygiene standards and compliance with licensing and registration norms.