KATHMANDU, Oct 28: The sale of substandard sweets is rampant in the Kathmandu Valley as Tihar festival is round the corner.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) officials on Wednesday took actions against a number of sweets shops on charge of failing to abide by the consumer protection laws. According to the KMC, its market inspection team penalized Rameshwaram Sweets and Snacks in Battisputali with a cash fine of Rs 10,000 while Priya Sweets and Chat House and Taj Bakery in Maharajgunj were penalized with Rs 20,000 each for the unscrupulous business activities.

Rameshwaram Sweets was found using substandard oil and date-expired ingredients to make sweets. Priya Sweets has been accused of not maintaining proper hygiene in its kitchen area.

Likewise, Taj Bakery was found running its business without receiving operating license and selling substandard ice-cream and snacks, among other items. The government authority also grilled Annapurna Mithai Bhandar at Gaushala on charges of using packaged rice grains and gram flour, which did not have proper labeling on them.

 
• sweets
 
• market
 
• substandard