Surat Eats First, Reports Later: Surat Municipal Corporation’s Food Safety Negligence Exposed

Surat | Gujarat — As the diamond city indulges in crores of rupees worth of fafda and jalebis during the holy festival of Dussehra, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) finds itself in the dock once again for its negligent and delayed approach towards food safety. In what has now become an annual ritual, SMC’s health department woke up just two days before the festival to collect samples from vendors—knowing fully well that laboratory reports will only arrive after 15 days, long after citizens have consumed the very food under scrutiny.

This careless timing has sparked outrage among residents, food safety activists, and even traders who claim that the checks serve no real purpose other than eyewash.

“What is the use of checking samples after people have already eaten the food? If the reports come 15 days later, any damage would already be done,” said Rajesh Parmar, a resident of Adajan. “SMC’s actions are nothing but a formality to show they are working. Citizens’ health is clearly not their priority.”

The health department’s Food Safety Team carried out so-called “surprise checks” at four major hotspots—Katargam, Adajan, Varachha, and Udhna—collecting samples of fafda, jalebi, ghee, and edible oil. The samples were sealed and dispatched to the municipal public health laboratory. Officials stated that legal action would follow only if violations are confirmed in the reports.

But critics argue this is too little, too late. Food safety activist Neha Shah lashed out: “Every year, the same story repeats. The festival is over, and then SMC waves lab reports at the media. This is systemic negligence. Why can’t they test samples in advance, ensure vendors meet safety norms before Dussehra, and actually prevent harm?”

Vendors, too, feel the selective and last-minute raids unfairly target them. One jalebi shop owner in Varachha said on condition of anonymity: “The officers come with cameras, seal some samples, and leave. If they truly cared, they would work with us months in advance to maintain hygiene and set up proper guidelines. Instead, they only care about making headlines.”

Surat consumes an estimated ₹200–250 crore worth of fafda-jalebis during Dussehra, making it one of the biggest seasonal food markets in Gujarat. Experts warn that late checks by SMC expose lakhs of residents to risks of adulteration, reuse of cooking oil, and contaminated ingredients—issues that can trigger food poisoning and long-term health hazards.

Despite the glaring risks, SMC’s response remains lackluster. Officials insist that their “aim is to ensure citizens get quality food during festivals,” but their own timeline betrays that claim.