From edible oil to a dozen other food categories that typically witness a festive-season spike in demand, food safety inspections assume more significance during Navratri. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), during its special drive, seized 3,938 kg of stock worth Rs 6,21,064 and collected 81 samples for examination from areas including Wadi, Bazargaon, and Itwari, according to data collated by FDA. The seizure, amounting to nearly 4 tonnes, puts the spotlight on the quality of food products circulating in the market during the festival. With consumers purchasing ingredients for fasting meals and festive preparations, the range of products under scrutiny extend from edible oil, ghee and dairy products to sweets, spices, dry fruits and packaged foods. The FDA conducted raids in Wadi, Bazargaon and Itwari as part of its Navratri food safety drive. The inspections were aimed at checking food products available in the market and ensuring compliance with prescribed food safety and quality standards. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has called for intensified inspections and sampling during Navratri and Diwali, identifying edible oil, milk and milk products, sweets, snacks, savouries and ghee among the categories warranting attention. The 81 samples collected during the FDA drive will be critical in determining whether the products comply with prescribed food safety standards. “A seizure does not, by itself, establish adulteration; laboratory analysis and the findings of the investigation determine whether further enforcement action is warranted,” an FDA official explained.