The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a statewide crackdown on prohibited food products, suspected adulteration and labelling violations, seizing goods worth crores of rupees and suspending the licences of 10 food establishments in Mumbai.
In an action carried out across multiple divisions, the FDA seized prohibited food products worth ₹79.29 lakh and three vehicles, taking the total value of these seizures to ₹1.09 crore. Twelve first information reports (FIRs) were registered and 13 people were arrested, according to a press note issued by the department on October 9.
Separately, inspections in the Konkan, Pune, Nagpur and Amravati divisions led to action against 53,726 kg of food stock and 6,098 litres of milk and toddy suspected to be substandard, adulterated or incorrectly labelled. The value of these products was estimated at ₹1.39 crore.
The products under scrutiny included areca nuts, milk, paneer, bhagar (barnyard millet), farsan, toddy and soybean oil.
The Nashik division accounted for a significant portion of the action against prohibited food products. Between October 6 and 8, officials inspected four establishments in Jalgaon, Dhule and Nashik and seized prohibited goods worth ₹23.24 lakh. Four FIRs were registered and five people were arrested. Two establishments were sealed and two vehicles were seized.
In a separate operation in Nandurbar on October 8, officials intercepted an Eicher vehicle allegedly transporting prohibited Vimal Pan Masala and V-1 tobacco. Acting on confidential information, the department seized the stock, valued at ₹39.47 lakh, along with the vehicle, estimated to be worth ₹30 lakh. The total seizure in the operation was valued at ₹69.47 lakh, and the goods were placed in the custody of Nandurbar City Police Station.
The FDA also seized prohibited products worth ₹10.88 lakh in the Konkan division, following inspections of three establishments on October 8. Three FIRs were registered and three people arrested.
In Pune, prohibited stock worth ₹4,005 was seized from one establishment, with one FIR registered and one person arrested. In the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, officials seized prohibited products worth ₹4.40 lakh from two establishments on October 6 and 7, registering two FIRs and arresting two people.
The Nagpur division reported seizures of prohibited stock worth ₹1.24 lakh from two establishments between October 6 and 8. Two FIRs were registered and two people arrested.
In Mumbai, the FDA suspended the licences of 10 establishments, including restaurants, caterers, dairies and canteens, citing deficiencies in food safety compliance.
The establishments named in the department's release are Huma Caterer at Islam Gymkhana; Milkoze Dairy Products in Kandivali East; La Pinoz Pizza in Santacruz West; F3 Corporate Hospitality Services at D J Sanghvi College of Engineering in Vile Parle West; Narayan Dosa at Opera House; Abrar Kirana Store near J J Hospital; Golden Star Restaurant at Charni Road; Central Canteen on the J J Hospital premises; Paliwal Dairy in Charkop, Kandivali West; and Nawab Juice Centre at Islam Gymkhana, Marine Lines.
The FDA cited a range of violations, including the absence of valid Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licences or registrations, incorrect licence categories and licences not displayed prominently.
Inspectors also found deficiencies in workers' hygiene practices, including the lack of gloves, headgear and aprons. Medical certificates and Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) records were reportedly unavailable at the establishments.
Other concerns included dirty or damaged walls, ceilings and floors, inadequate cleaning and disinfection practices, and the presence of rats, cockroaches and flies. Some establishments reportedly lacked pest-control records.
The department also flagged improper food storage, inadequate refrigeration and temperature monitoring, failure to follow first-in, first-out (FIFO) or first-expiry, first-out (FEFO) practices, and inadequate segregation of raw and cooked food as well as vegetarian and non-vegetarian items.
In the Konkan division, the FDA took action against 52,016 kg of areca nuts at Uma Exports Ltd in Turbhe MIDC, Navi Mumbai. Valued at ₹1.33 crore, the stock was suspected to be of substandard quality, with officials also citing packaging and labelling deficiencies and alleged violations of Sections 23, 26 and 27 of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
At Shri Yog Dairy in Mahad, Raigad district, samples were taken from 40 kg of raw cow's milk and 35 kg of raw buffalo's milk on October 7. The milk, collectively valued at ₹4,450, was suspected to be substandard.
At Sawariya Milk and Milk Product in Taloja MIDC, officials took action against 3,998 litres of chilled raw cow's milk, valued at ₹1.95 lakh, and 598 litres of buffalo's milk, valued at ₹41,860, over alleged labelling violations.
The FDA also flagged 119 kg of low-fat paneer, worth ₹30,940, at Mateshwari Foods in Taloja MIDC for labelling deficiencies.
In Pune, 215 kg of Kaka Tikha Farsan, valued at ₹55,900, was scrutinised at Aaimata Farsan and Wafers in Ambegaon, Dhankawadi, over labelling violations and suspected substandard quality.
At Shiv Sahyadri Milk Sankalan and Shitakaran Kendra in Shirur taluka, 1,484 litres of milk, valued at ₹62,328, reportedly tested positive in an acidity test, prompting proceedings under Sections 26 and 27 of the Act.
Officials also took action against 18 litres of toddy, worth ₹900, at a shop in Dafalapur, Sangli district, on suspicion that it was substandard or unsafe.
In Nagpur, 538 kg of bhagar, valued at ₹69,940, was seized from Ishwardas Kirana Bhandar in Itwari over alleged packaging and labelling violations.
Meanwhile, in Amravati division, 763.40 kg of packed refined soybean oil, valued at ₹1.36 lakh, was seized from Oshiyaji Industries in Wani on suspicion of adulteration.
