In a stern message to unscrupulous traders compromising on food safety, the Puri Police launched a major enforcement drive on Thursday morning, raiding multiple Khaja manufacturing units and godowns across the holy city.
The coordinated crackdown follows a surge in complaints from devotees visiting Srikshetra, who alleged that substandard, adulterated, and overpriced Khaja was being sold by local traders.
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ RAID OPERATIONS SUMMARY │
├───────────────────┬────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Key Locations │ Sri Krishna Cinema Lane, Bada Danda, Swargadwar │
│ Participating │ Town Police, Food Safety Department, │
│ Agencies │ Legal Metrology (Weights & Measures) │
│ Lead Official │ City DSP Rashmi Ranjan Mahapatra │
│ Focus Areas │ Quality check, hygiene, weight accuracy, licensing │
└───────────────────┴────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Led by City DSP Rashmi Ranjan Mahapatra, the special inspection force—comprising personnel from the Town Police alongside officials from the Food Safety and Legal Metrology departments—swept through major commercial pockets, including Sri Krishna Cinema Lane, Bada Danda, and Swargadwar.
During the inspections, authorities scrutinised:
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The purity and quality of ingredients used in preparing Khaja.
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Kitchen hygiene, preparation practices, and storage conditions.
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Validity of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licenses.
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Accuracy of weighing scales and packaging standards to curb short-weighing and price inflation.
Officials emphasised that any adulterated or substandard batches found during testing will be seized immediately, with severe legal action initiated against violating merchants and factory owners under relevant food safety and consumer protection laws.
Khaja holds immense religious and cultural significance in Puri, bought by millions of pilgrims annually as sacred prasadam to share with family back home. Authorities affirmed that similar surprise inspections will continue in the coming days to maintain strict compliance and protect pilgrims from unfair trade practices.
