Varanasi: The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department appears to be fully prepared to prevent food adulteration during festivals and normal times. On Monday, the department's team conducted surprise inspections of 23 reputable food establishments, conducting a series of raids in various parts of the city. During this, samples of 18 different food items were collected for quality checks and are being sent to the laboratory for testing. Following the test report, further legal action will be taken as per the rules. Food Safety Department teams simultaneously tightened their grip on several busy and sensitive areas of the city. According to department officials, the areas raided on Monday primarily included Chetganj, Bharlai, Navalpur, Shivpur, Senpura, Akhri Bypass, and other surrounding areas. During the raid, food safety officers inspected the cleanliness and quality of the goods sold at the establishments. Based on the suspicion of adulteration, the team collected a total of 18 samples, primarily gram flour laddus, sonpapdi, chhena sweets, pure mustard oil, loose and packaged milk, cheese, and sauce. All these samples are being sealed and sent to the government laboratory for testing. Following this major action, Assistant Commissioner II Kaushalendra Sharma stated bluntly that adulterators who compromise the health of the general public will not be spared at any cost. Adulteration will not be tolerated at any level. The department has also appealed to citizens to lodge complaints with the department if they suspect adulteration or irregularities in food items at any establishment. If the complaint is substantiated, strict legal action will be taken against the shopkeepers and businessmen involved.