With the New Year 2026 countdown underway, food safety authorities in Vijayawada have issued a crucial public health alert. Officials are urging citizens to exercise extreme caution when purchasing cakes, sweets, and other bakery items for their celebrations. This warning comes as the demand for festive treats reaches its annual peak.
Strict Action Promised Against Quality Compromise
The Food Safety and Standards Authority is determined to prevent a repeat of the unfortunate incidents that followed the 2025 New Year festivities. Several cases of food poisoning and diarrhoea were reported across city hospitals last year, tracing back to substandard celebratory foods. To curb this, authorities have vowed to take stringent action against vendors and bakeries that compromise on quality for quick profits.
Assistant Food Controller for Krishna and NTR districts, B Sreenivas, emphasized the gravity of the situation. He announced that a special New Year drive will be conducted starting December 30. "Quality standards must be followed in every bakery unit. Cakes should be prepared with utmost care, using fresh cream and quality raw material," Sreenivas stated.
Intensified Inspections Target Perishable Items and Hygiene
Food safety teams have already intensified inspections across the city, well ahead of the December 31 deadline. Their focus is multi-pronged:
- Inspecting bakery manufacturing units and their storage conditions.
- Closely monitoring the quality of ingredients, especially artificial colours and harmful preservatives, which are now strictly discouraged.
- Ensuring a proper cold chain is maintained for cakes to preserve freshness.
A special focus is on the cream used for cake icing, a highly perishable product that poses a significant risk if not handled correctly. Officials have mandated that bakeries clearly display crucial details like the date and time of preparation next to all cakes kept for sale.
Public Cooperation Crucial for a Safe Celebration
The alert specifically highlights the risk from temporary cake sellers and roadside stalls that mushroom during the season. These vendors often operate without proper licenses and fail to meet basic hygiene standards, capitalizing on the surge in demand.
Authorities are making a direct appeal to consumers to remain vigilant. Citizens are urged to buy only fresh products from reputable sources and to report any sale of substandard cakes or sweets immediately. Public cooperation is deemed essential to ensure that the city rings in 2026 with safe, healthy, and joyful celebrations, free from the fear of foodborne illness.
