The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in a raid carried at the Parle Agro’s Velocit Express warehouse near Chembur Naka in Mumbai, found expired food and beverage stock worth around ₹1 lakh. The licence of the premises licence was suspended as part of the regulatory procedure.
The search was conducted overnight by eight FDA officials. Reports indicate the inspection started around 6pm on August 13 and lasted till 5am the next day.
The seized stock consisted of Appy Fizz, Frooti and Candy Juice, which were prohibited from further sale after the inspection. Two vehicles were used to transport the products, and the warehouse was sealed after the procedure.
Authorities have prohibited the sale and transportation of any food products from the warehouse till further orders are issued.
The move is part of a wider crackdown led by the FDA across Mumbai, under new Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, a 2005-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
He has launched a massive statewide enforcement drive targeting adulterated food, unhygienic conditions and illegal trade.
His department has executed over 3100 inspections, averaging more than 20 operations per day. The FDA has suspended over 165 establishment licences, targeting elite hotels, street vendors and e-commerce hubs.
A raid on August 13 targeted 86 quick-commerce and online delivery warehouses. The inspection uncovered multiple food safety and hygiene violations. This led to the suspension of food business licences for these premises, belonging to online delivery platforms.
Out of the 14 suspended licences, five were for Blinkit establishments, five for Zepto, two for Instamart, one for Bhagwati Stores and one for Swinsta Ent Pvt Ltd.
On August 12, the FDA also suspended the food business licences of four Domino's pizza outlets, citing unhygienic conditions and violations of food safety. This included three outlets in Mumbai. The city's 70-year-old K Rustom ice cream parlour has also lost its licence.
