Right way to buy Diwali sweets
As the festival of Diwali approaches, the hustle and bustle in the markets increases. From sweet shops to gift shops, crowds of customers are seen everywhere. On this special occasion, people not only buy sweets for themselves, but also gift boxes of sweets to friends, relatives and neighbours. However, with the increasing demand for sweets during this period, the risk of adulteration and poor quality food items also increases.
Many times, sweets that look attractive are not of good quality inside. Old sweets, spoiled mawa and sweets made from substandard ingredients may also be sold at some shops. Therefore, buying sweets without checking can be harmful for your health.
If you are planning to buy sweets from the market on Diwali 2026, it is important to keep some important things in mind. By choosing the right sweets you can secure the happiness of the festival. Let us know which 6 things should be kept in mind while buying sweets.
1. Don't go overboard on sweets
During Diwali, colorful and shiny sweets are seen in the shops. Sweets with silver work especially attract customers. But it is wrong to judge the quality of sweets just by looking at their shine and beauty.
While buying sweets, pay attention to its texture, color and fragrance. If the sweet is too bright in color or has an unusual smell, avoid buying it. While purchasing sweets with silver work, ensure that the work is suitable for edible use.
2. Check the quality of Mawa and Khoya
The demand for sweets made from mawa and khoya increases on Diwali, such as kalakand, peda, barfi, gulab jamun and milk cake. Therefore it is necessary to pay attention to their quality.
While buying sweets, check whether there is any bad smell in it. If mawa looks unusually sticky, discolored or spoiled, avoid purchasing it.
However, adulteration cannot be confirmed just by looking or smelling. Therefore, always buy sweets from a trustworthy and clean shop.
3. Check the expiry date of packed sweets
If you are buying packed sweets, read the information written on its packing carefully. Many people buy sweets during festivals after seeing attractive packets and forget to check the manufacturing date or expiry date.
Keep the following things in mind when purchasing a packet:
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Be sure to check the manufacturing date of the sweets.
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Read information related to best before or expiry.
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Check the seal and packing condition of the packet.
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Read ingredients and allergy information.
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Get information about the temperature at which sweets should be kept.
If the packet is bloated, the seal is broken or the packaging of the sweet is damaged, avoid buying it.
4. Pay attention to the cleanliness of open sweets
During Diwali, many shops keep open sweets decorated in trays. These look attractive, but it is very important to pay attention to their cleanliness.
Before buying loose sweets, check that there are no flies, dust or dirt in the shop. The sweets should be covered and clean tongs or other appropriate equipment should be used to remove them.
Apart from this, also see the cleanliness of the shop employees and the arrangements for storing sweets. It is better to buy sweets from a place where the food items are kept clean and safe.
5. Don't forget to get FSSAI license and bill
The credibility of the shopkeeper is also important while purchasing sweets. Try to always buy sweets from a shop where information related to Food Safety and Standards Authority i.e. FSSAI is available.
The FSSAI license or registration number of the shop can be seen. If needed, you can also check it on the official FoSCoS portal of FSSAI.
Apart from this, after purchasing sweets, take the bill from the shopkeeper. If there is any complaint later regarding the quality of the sweets, the bill can help in providing proof of purchase.
6. Avoid buying cheap sweets
During Diwali, many shops offer attractive offers on sweets. At some places it is claimed that sweets are available at much lower prices than the normal price. In such a situation, it is not right to buy just by looking at the cheap price.
Keep in mind that sweets made from good quality milk, mawa, ghee and dry fruits can also be priced accordingly. If a shopkeeper is selling sweets at a much lower price than the market, then definitely inquire about its quality and ingredients.
However, it is not necessary that expensive sweets are always good. Therefore, along with the price, also give importance to its quality, packing and reliability of the shop.
Where to complain about adulterated sweets on Diwali?
If you suspect a shop of selling adulterated or poor quality sweets, you can complain to the concerned food safety department.
For this, FSSAI's Food Safety Connect platform or app can be used. Apart from this, for complaints related to food safety, FSSAI helpline can also be contacted on 1800-11-2100.
While making a complaint, keep the name of the shop, bill, picture of sweets and available information safe. This may help the concerned authorities to investigate the matter.
How to keep sweets safe after purchasing them at home?
Buying sweets is not enough, it is also important to store them properly. Especially sweets made from milk and mawa can spoil quickly.
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Keep sweets made from milk and mawa in the refrigerator as per need.
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Keep sweets in clean and covered containers.
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Store different types of sweets properly.
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Follow the storage instructions given on the packet.
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Avoid eating sweets kept out for a long time or with bad smell.
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If you are in doubt about the quality of a sweet, do not take the risk of eating it.