The Pune Food and Drug Administration has seized 1,190 kg of Motichoor laddoos and boondi worth approximately Rs 1.73 lakh from a sweets manufacturing unit in Kondhwa after officials detected excessive artificial food colours and violations of hygiene and sanitation requirements.
The action was taken at Gayatri Ladoo Bhandar, located in Tilekar Nagar, Kondhwa Budruk, Pune, during an inspection by FDA officials. The seized stock, comprising Motichoor laddoos and boondi, was estimated to be worth Rs 1,73,950.
According to the inspection findings reported by Punekar News, the unit was using artificial food colours beyond the prescribed limits. Officials also found that mandatory hygiene and sanitation requirements were not being followed during food production. The unit did not have the required analytical reports relating to hygiene and sanitation, the report said.
The seizure comes a day after Maharashtra Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe warned food manufacturers against the excessive use of artificial colours in commercially produced laddoos. Speaking at a Diwali faral distribution programme organised by the Merchant Chamber, Mundhe said food colours must be used strictly within prescribed standards.
The enforcement action is part of intensified inspections by the Maharashtra FDA ahead of Diwali. The inspections are focused on food adulteration, excessive use of artificial colours and breaches of food safety and hygiene regulations in sweets and other festive food products.
For consumers, the inspection highlights the regulatory controls that apply to commercially manufactured festive foods. Artificial colours, hygiene practices and documentation related to production are among the areas being checked by food safety officials during the seasonal inspection drive.
The FDA seized the entire stock found at the Kondhwa unit after recording the violations. The reported action does not establish the outcome of any further regulatory or legal proceedings against the manufacturing unit. The inspection drive is continuing ahead of Diwali, with authorities checking sweets manufacturers and other producers of festive food products across the state.
