At least 10 establishments in Ranchi were fined Rs 1.65 lakh in all on Wednesday for selling adulterated food and using substandard products during a surprise inspection by a team of food analysts ahead of Diwali.

Ranchi sub-divisional officer Deepak Dubey, who led the inspection on Wednesday, said that the team collected random samples from shops and restaurants on Kanke Road, Bariatu and Booty More localities. The team included food analysts, district administration officials and experts who tested the samples on-the-spot in a mobile food testing laboratory.

“We mostly tested samples of sweets, the oil used for cooking and the edible colours added to the food items,” said Dubey, adding that the teams also inspected whether the staff members and cooks at the establishments were adhering to Covid-19 norms. “Even those shops where cooks and staff members were not wearing facemasks and head masks were fined,” added the SDO.

Last month, the district administration conducted similar inspections in other parts of the city and slapped fines of Rs 2.75 lakh on at least 23 establishments that were found to violate food safety protocols.

“Some shops also add flour or arrowroot powder to their milk products in order to make more profit. During this inspection, we also tested if the quality of khowa or paneer used in various food items were up to the mark,” said a food analyst.

Ranchi has no dedicated food inspector to check adulteration in food products. Last month, Ranchi food inspector S.S. Kullu resigned, leaving the position vacant. In the wake of Diwali, the district administration gave the additional responsibility of inspecting food items to sub-divisional officer Deepak Dubey, sources said.

Even though the district administration has run campaigns to inspect the quality of food sold at various eateries prior to Diwali, residents should buy sweets from shops they trust and get food items tested if they have any doubt about the quality of products, an official said.

“We cannot test the quality of food in all shops and eateries in Ranchi. It is in the best interest of residents to choose wisely and get food samples tested if they have any doubts,” the official said, adding that chances of adulteration were highest in paneer and khowa.