The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration seized food articles worth Rs 25.54 lakh from 14 establishments across the state during inspections conducted on October 25 and 26, citing expired stock, improper labelling, unhygienic manufacturing and suspected substandard or adulterated products.
The crackdown covered all FDA divisions and resulted in the seizure of approximately 9,385 kg of food articles, 7,566 packets of expired packaged food, 7,104 bottles of carbonated beverages and 88 litres of milk. The seized products included sweets, mawa, namkeen, shev, chivda, chips, dry fruits, roasted almonds, soya chunks, wheat flour, desiccated coconut powder, instant gulab jamun mix and food additives.
The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division recorded the highest number of establishments inspected, with six units raided and food articles valued at Rs 7.09 lakh seized. The division’s seizures included 3,622.1 kg of food products and 7,104 bottles of carbonated beverages.
In Greater Mumbai, officials seized 752.8 kg of chips, dry fruits and roasted almonds worth Rs 6.99 lakh from two establishments. At Ananta Food Products in Bhandup West, the FDA found packaged food without proper labels and seized 628 kg of multigrain beetroot and spinach-broccoli chips valued at Rs 20,730. At Curated Foods on Aarey Road in Goregaon East, officials seized 690 kg of mixed dry fruits and roasted almonds valued at Rs 6.78 lakh.
In the Konkan division, Cloudstore Retail Pvt Ltd in Padgha, Bhiwandi, was found with 7,566 packets of expired packaged food worth Rs 6.88 lakh. The company allegedly failed to produce records showing that the expired stock had been disposed of. The FDA also seized 2,674 kg of desiccated coconut powder worth Rs 2.67 lakh from Giridhari Trading Co in Nagpur over suspicions that the product was substandard.
Other seizures included 2,100 kg of wheat flour valued at Rs 71,500 from Sachin Industries in Dhule, 876 kg of anarse sweets worth Rs 17,520 from establishments in Pune, and 565 kg of sweets valued at Rs 18,950 from Bikaner Mithaiwala in Waluj. In the latter case, the FDA cited unhygienic packaging and the alleged use of sweet barfi in place of khoya. The seized stock was destroyed and the establishment’s licence was suspended.
The department also reported seizures of suspected adulterated milk in Amravati, along with instant gulab jamun mix, soya chunks, namkeen, food additives and beverage ingredients from establishments in different divisions. The FDA said enforcement action was taken over violations involving labelling, manufacturing conditions, suspected adulteration and the absence of valid licences or registrations.
The FDA has directed food businesses to use properly labelled packaging, maintain hygienic manufacturing and storage conditions, hold valid licences or registrations, and keep records of stock received and disposed of under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and related rules. Consumers have been advised to buy from licensed or registered outlets and check labels, batch numbers, packing dates and Best Before details before purchasing food.
Residents can report the sale of expired, substandard or suspicious food through the FDA’s toll-free helpline at 1800222365 or through its grievance redressal system at https://complaintsmahafdain.
