Kolkata, September 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Kolkata’s sweeping crackdown on eateries ahead of Durga Puja has triggered a fierce debate, with authorities citing serious food safety violations while critics question whether the enforcement drive is politically motivated.
Kolkata’s food culture is central to the city’s identity, particularly during Durga Puja when restaurants, sweet shops, food stalls and hotels witness a sharp rise in footfall. Officials, however, say the recent inspections have exposed alarming hygiene lapses that pose a serious risk to consumers.
The inspections were carried out across Kolkata and parts of West Bengal during a “Food Safety Week”, covering hundreds of establishments. Authorities reportedly suspended the licences of several eateries and discarded more than 1,000 kg of food considered unsafe for consumption.
Among the violations reportedly detected were rotten meat, stale seafood, fungus-infested sweets, expired ingredients, pest infestations, repeated use of cooking oil and improper refrigeration.
Several well-known establishments, including Nizam’s, Karim’s, Arsalan, Balaram Mullick and Don Giovannis, have featured in the enforcement action.
The findings involving sweet shops have drawn particular attention in Bengal, where sweets form an important part of the state’s culinary and cultural identity. Concerns over hygiene at prominent establishments have therefore intensified the public debate.
Officials maintain that lax enforcement over several decades allowed unsafe practices to continue and argue that strict corrective action is necessary to restore consumer confidence and protect people from foodborne illnesses during the festival season.
Critics, however, have alleged that the timing and targeting of prominent establishments make the campaign appear politically driven. They have questioned whether the action amounts to selective enforcement and claimed that establishments with political or influential connections may have escaped scrutiny.
The controversy has also been fuelled by recent political statements linking food habits with ideas of purity and piousness. Some BJP leaders have sought to clarify that such views represent individual choices rather than any official position.
Restaurant owners have expressed concern over sudden licence suspensions, particularly during the peak festive business period. They say such action can threaten livelihoods and damage consumer confidence even when establishments comply with corrective measures and reopen.
Some operators have also questioned whether raids alone can bring systemic improvement, arguing that greater support is needed for infrastructure upgrades, hygiene training and staff capacity-building.
The enforcement drive comes amid similar efforts in other states. In Maharashtra, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has pushed for stricter food safety measures and proposed a year-round plan to curb adulteration in high-risk food items during festivals.
That proposal includes an annual inspection calendar and a three-tier strategy for food safety checks during different festivals.
In West Bengal, the debate therefore extends beyond the immediate findings of the raids. While food safety concerns have found support, the timing of the campaign and the prominence of some establishments involved have added a political dimension to an issue that directly affects public health and consumer trust during one of Bengal’s biggest festivals.
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