Kathmandu, October 20

With the Tihar and Chhath festivals around the corner, sweets traders in the Capital have been found to be selling substandard products and ignoring hygienic practices during preparation of the confectioneries.

Even reputed confectionery outlets like Anmol Sweets and Sangam Sweets have been caught selling unhygienic sweets by the government.

A market monitoring team of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DoFTQC) on Wednesday had sealed Naxal-based Anmol Sweets after inspectors found the confectionery outlet not maintaining quality standards while producing sweet products. The team had found cockroaches and flies in edible items placed at Anmol Sweets’ kitchen. The team had also destroyed lalmohans and rasbaris that were found to be inedible at Anmol Sweets.

Similar situation was witnessed at another reputed confectionery shop — Sangam Sweets of New Baneshwor. A raid carried out by the Department of Supply Management and Consumer Welfare Protection (DoSMCWP), on Tuesday, found the kitchen of Sangam Sweets unsanitary. The inspection team had caught a large volume of decaying and ‘almost rotten’ vegetables at the eatery’s kitchen. The department has sought clarification from Sangam Sweets within three days.

Moreover, inspectors of DoSMCWP, today, also found New Baneshwor Sweet and Chat House and Pashupati Sweet and Chat House of Lazimpat selling sub-standard and date-expired products.

However, these might not be isolated cases and government officials believe that chances of anomaly in the quality of sweets go up during the festive seasons due to its higher consumption.

“It’s shameful and shocking that even reputed confectionery brands are not maintaining quality standards in food products,” Purna Chandra Osti, spokesperson for DoFTQC said, adding that the government will leave no stone unturned to bring such confectionery outlets to the books.

In view of the festive season, Osti said that the department will intensify monitoring in the market with special focus on confectionery.

As of now, a joint inspection team of DoSMCWP and DoFTQC and independent inspection teams of both government bodies have been monitoring the market on a regular basis. Meanwhile, both departments have also urged consumers to be aware while consuming confectionery ahead of Tihar and Chhath festivals.

Consumer rights activists believe that if the government cracks down on renowned food outlets, it will set the precedence for smaller food joints to clean up their acts as well.

“Taking action against big outlets that are not maintaining quality standards will set an example and alert and encourage small eateries to maintain quality in food products,” Madhav Timalsina, president of Consumers’ Right Investigation Forum, said.