The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration seized food stock worth Rs 44.37 crore and suspended 326 licences and registrations during a Diwali food safety drive conducted across the state between October 15 and November 3, according to an official statement. The enforcement action covered 3,332 food establishments and resulted in 1,501 improvement notices, 3,864 food samples being collected and 1,886.44 metric tonnes of food stock being seized.
The drive targeted businesses handling products that see increased demand during the festive period, including sweets, khava, milk products, ghee, edible oil, dry fruits, spices and packaged food. The FDA also inspected sweet shops, dairies, farsan manufacturers, supermarkets, online grocery platforms, quick-commerce warehouses, hotels, restaurants, caterers, street-food vendors, fruit-ripening units and packaged drinking-water manufacturers.
In Mumbai, the department conducted 1,037 inspections during the special drive. It issued 583 improvement notices, suspended 76 licences and began cancellation proceedings against four licences. Officials collected 438 food samples and seized 287.45 metric tonnes of food stock valued at approximately Rs 9.282 lakh, the statement said.
The Konkan division recorded the highest value of seizures during the Diwali drive, with food stock worth Rs 17.68 crore seized. The FDA also reported that it had seized food stock worth Rs 63.45 crore and suspended 954 food business licences and registrations in a wider statewide enforcement drive conducted between September 1 and November 3. That operation covered 9,667 establishments, generated 4,603 improvement notices and involved 8,835 food samples. Action to cancel 25 licences and registrations was initiated during the wider drive.
Commodity-wise figures for the September 1 to November 3 operation showed that edible oil and salt, spices and condiments accounted for a substantial share of the seized material. The FDA seized 92.511 metric tonnes of edible oil valued at Rs 16.31 crore and 89.532 metric tonnes of salt, spices and condiments valued at Rs 21.09 crore. Other seizures included 17.157 metric tonnes of milk products, including ghee and khava, worth Rs 7.63 crore; 15.666 metric tonnes of dry fruits worth Rs 7.47 crore; 5.978 metric tonnes of sweets worth Rs 1.36 crore; and 48 metric tonnes of namkeen and snacks valued at Rs 1.18 crore.
The department said it was maintaining special surveillance on khava and mawa transported from other states. Inspection teams were directed to check for adulterated or synthetic khava, cold-chain conditions and records showing the source of the products. Inspectors also checked for non-permitted food colours, adulteration of ghee and edible oil, expired products, incorrect labelling, unsafe storage and the sale of analogue paneer as regular paneer.
The FDA advised consumers to buy food only from licensed or registered shops, verify the FSSAI licence number displayed at the establishment and request bills carrying the shop’s FSSAI number. It warned consumers to be cautious when buying unusually cheap sweets, khava, ghee and dry fruits, and to avoid products with unnaturally bright colours, sour smells, stickiness or visible fungus. Milk-based sweets should be bought in small quantities, refrigerated and consumed within a day or two, the department said.
For online purchases, consumers were advised to check seals and expiry dates at delivery and refuse perishable products that arrive warm, expired, damaged or tampered with. The FDA also advised people not to consume uncovered food or cut fruit sold at street stalls and not to accept food wrapped in newspaper.
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the administration would support honest businesses while taking strict action against those endangering public health. The department said violations can attract penalties under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, including imprisonment for selling unsafe food and for operating without a valid licence. Consumers can report food-quality complaints or malpractice through the FDA’s toll-free number, 1800 222 3365, or its grievance portal.
