The Pune Food and Drug Administration seized and destroyed 1,491 kilograms of sweets from two establishments in Kondhwa Budruk and Alandi after inspections found stock that officials identified as substandard, unlabelled or unsupported by purchase bills. The action was carried out ahead of Diwali and involved motichoor ladoos, boondi and barfi valued at an estimated Rs 2,94,900.
At Gayatri Ladoo Bhandar in Tilekar Nagar, Kondhwa Budruk, an FDA team led by food safety officer K. V. Barwakar seized 1,008 kilograms of motichoor ladoos valued at Rs 1,51,000 and 180 kilograms of motichoor boondi valued at Rs 22,000. The combined 1,188-kilogram stock, worth Rs 1,73,000, was destroyed at the site, according to the report. The food licence connected to the products was also suspended immediately.
The second action took place at R. Bikaner Mithai Centre at Mauli Complex on the Alandi-Marakal Road in Dhanore, Khed taluka. During an inspection reported to have taken place on November 2, officials seized and destroyed 303 kilograms of barfi valued at Rs 1,21,200.
The FDA report cited in the source said the barfi stock was of inferior quality, did not carry labels and was not supported by purchase invoices. A sample of kalakand was also collected and sent to a laboratory for testing. The supplied report does not state the laboratory result or indicate whether further prosecution or penalties have followed.
The enforcement action highlights the role of food-safety inspections in managing the seasonal surge in production and sales of sweets in Pune and its surrounding areas. During festival periods, large quantities of perishable products move through formal shops, local outlets and temporary sales channels, making storage conditions, traceability and labelling important parts of the public-health system.
The FDA has appealed to food businesses to maintain safe storage conditions, use proper labels and retain purchase bills for food products. These records allow authorities to establish the source of ingredients and finished products during inspections or investigations.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of FDA joint commissioner Shrikant Karkale. Food safety officers H. R. Marewar and S. N. Chatte were also involved, according to the report. The source does not provide details of additional inspections planned across Pune or the outcome of the laboratory examination of the kalakand sample.
