Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stepped up its statewide crackdown on unsafe, substandard and illegally sold food, seizing stocks worth lakhs of rupees across several divisions and taking criminal action against establishments found violating food safety norms.
In Nagpur alone, the FDA seized banned food products worth ₹31.83 lakh during inspections conducted on September 21 and 22. Three vehicles valued at another ₹19.6 lakh, allegedly used to transport the banned products, were also seized. Seven FIRs were registered and seven people were arrested, according to the Maharashtra FDA.
The crackdown covered products ranging from gutkha, pan masala and scented tobacco to edible oils, milk products, sweets, bakery ingredients, spices and other food items.
The Nagpur Division inspection drive targeted the illegal sale, storage and transportation of banned food products, including gutkha, pan masala and scented tobacco.
The FDA inspected eight establishments and found banned stock at seven of them. Besides the ₹31.83 lakh worth of banned products, three vehicles allegedly used for transportation were seized.
In Mumbai, the FDA also seized banned food stock worth ₹2.48 lakh from an establishment. An FIR was registered and two people were arrested in the case. Violations involving edible oil were found in Nagpur and Gadchiroli as well.
At Anisha Industries and Marketing in Gadchiroli, officials seized 2,801 kg of refined soybean oil worth ₹5.18 lakh after finding that old or used tins were being reused. The laboratory at the premises was also found to be closed or non-functional.
At New Harjeet Provisions in Gadchiroli, another 1,393 kg of refined soybean oil worth ₹2.60 lakh was seized over similar concerns involving the reuse of tins and a non-functional laboratory.
In Nagpur, 748.4 kg of refined soybean oil worth ₹1.19 lakh was seized from Sainath Trader, while another 1,798.4 kg worth ₹2.87 lakh was seized from Jyoti Oil Mill.
Together, the seizures from these four establishments amounted to nearly 6.7 tonnes of soybean oil.
One of the largest individual seizures was reported from V.H. Enterprises in Nashik, where the FDA seized 20,300 kg of bhagar (barnyard millet) valued at approximately ₹25.37 lakh.
According to the FDA, the stock was found to be substandard and did not meet food safety standards. Officials also found that the packets did not carry mandatory information such as the product name, manufacturing date, expiry date and FSSAI registration number.
The grain was also reportedly stored in unhygienic conditions, with the FDA citing the possibility of contamination by dust and insects.
In another unusual seizure, FDA officials intercepted a Welcome Travels bus travelling from Ahmedabad to Akola and found approximately 5,000 kg of sweets being transported in the passenger vehicle.
The sweets were reportedly stored in extremely unhygienic conditions and without adequate safety measures. The FDA said the quality of the sweets was extremely poor and that there was a possibility that they could be harmful to health or adulterated. The entire stock was seized.
In Bhiwandi, the FDA seized 4,164.86 kg of food products from B.J.R. Super Foods Private Limited following suspected violations of labelling rules and concerns over food quality.
The seized stock, valued at ₹15.87 lakh, included eggless cake mixes, baking powder, corn flour, gulab jamun and kesar basundi instant mixes, custard powder, drink mixes, baking soda, food colours and flavours, ice-cream mix powder, Belgian waffle mix and other products.
The action highlights the importance of mandatory labelling, particularly for processed food products used by bakeries and food businesses.
The FDA reported several seizures involving milk and milk products.
In Pune, officials seized 225 kg of khoa worth ₹67,500 and 130 kg of medium-fat paneer worth ₹57,200 from Om Trading Company in Bibwewadi. The establishment was also found operating without a licence, with the FDA citing concerns over substandard or unsafe food and hygiene violations.
At Laxmi Sweets in Pimpri, 8 kg of malai modak and 3 kg of kalakand with silver varkh were seized.
From Agarwal Dairy in Hadapsar, 17.5 kg of ghee worth ₹11,200 was seized after officials found it being sold without labels and suspected it to be substandard.
In Raigad, the FDA seized loose khoa from Parihar Sweets in Pen and 22 kg of loose cow-milk khoa from Manpasand Mithaiwala in Karjat.
In Thane, 9 kg of paneer was seized from Shri Samarth Dairy in Badlapur, while 78 litres of raw buffalo milk was seized from Akash Dairy in Diva.
The FDA also seized 17.8 kg of chilli, turmeric and coriander powder from Morya Kirana in Waluj, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, following suspicion over the quality of the products.
The crackdown also uncovered food businesses allegedly operating without the mandatory FSSAI licence.
Hotel Utkarsh Palace in Sangli and Gulzar Place in Solapur were found operating without valid food business licences during inspections on September 22. The FDA issued stop-business notices to both establishments.
Under Section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, food business operators are required to obtain the necessary licence or registration before manufacturing, storing, distributing or selling food.
In Ghatkopar East, the FDA inspected Laxmi Farsan on September 22 and reported several hygiene and food-safety deficiencies.
Officials found pest activity on the premises and said the establishment was not following the First-In-First-Out method for food storage. Food and non-food items were also not being adequately segregated.
The FDA further reported a lack of appropriate temperature-controlled storage for temperature-sensitive foods, inadequate implementation of cleaning and sanitation schedules and the absence of required internal and external audits.
The establishment's licence was subsequently suspended for violations of hygiene and sanitation requirements.
The FDA also suspended the licences of Balaji Bikaner Sweet Mart in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and OAM Industries (India) Pvt Ltd in Nagpur after inspections found violations of prescribed hygiene and safety requirements.
The crackdown extended to ready-to-eat and frozen products as well.
In Nashik, 4,572 samosas worth ₹45,720 were seized from Mateshwari Samosa over unhygienic conditions and suspected substandard quality.
At Jai Durga Sweets in Nagpur, 128 kg of loose soan papdi worth ₹28,160 was seized over concerns about food quality and hygiene.
In Nandurbar, officials seized 64 kg of frozen desserts, including vanilla, chocolate chip and American dry fruits varieties, from Bharkadevi Ice Cream over suspected adulteration.
At Bhavram in Kudal, Sindhudurg, 181 kg of jaggery, farsan and khoa worth ₹29,800 was seized after officials found manufacturing and storage being carried out in what they described as extremely unhygienic conditions.
The Maharashtra FDA has appealed to consumers to report suspected food adulteration, poor-quality food and other malpractices.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the government would continue taking strict action against those involved in selling or storing expired, tampered or otherwise unsafe food products.
The latest inspections come amid increased scrutiny of food businesses across the state, with the FDA targeting not only adulterated and substandard products but also basic compliance issues such as licensing, labelling, storage, sanitation and hygiene.
Consumers can lodge complaints through the FDA's toll-free number 1800222365 or through the Food & Drug Grievance Portal at complaints.mahafda.in.
