The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration seized around 43.56 tonnes of food products valued at approximately Rs 1.56 crore and destroyed 7,192 litres of milk and ghee during a statewide inspection drive conducted in October, according to a press note issued by the department on October 24.
The enforcement action covered Mumbai, Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur divisions. The FDA reported suspected adulteration, substandard products, incorrect labelling, poor hygiene and other violations of food safety requirements at multiple establishments. The drive also targeted the sale and storage of prohibited food products.
In Mumbai, officials inspected establishments in Govandi, Mankhurd, Antop Hill, Chembur and Dharavi on October 23 and 24, destroying 564 litres of milk. Action was initiated against several dairies and milk sellers over alleged breaches of hygiene, sanitation, storage and licensing requirements.
Officials seized and destroyed 85 litres of suspected loose milk from Sainath Dairy and Farsan Mart and Maharana Dairy in Govandi and Mankhurd. Samples were collected for laboratory testing, while the FDA initiated proceedings to suspend the registration of both establishments. Agasti Milk Agency in Mankhurd was also found to have violated hygiene and sanitation standards, prompting action to suspend its licence. Legal action was initiated against Yadav Dairy in Govandi East for allegedly operating without a licence.
At Sagar Milk Centre in Antop Hill, the FDA destroyed 250 litres of pasteurised, homogenised toned milk valued at Rs 11,625. The department said the milk was being stored and sold in plastic bags and cans contrary to prescribed storage requirements. In separate inspections, 31 litres of loose cow’s milk from Shakti Dairy in Dharavi and 198 litres of raw loose cow’s milk from Rahul Milk Centre in Mahim West were seized and destroyed. The FDA said action was being taken to suspend the licences of the establishments concerned.
The Konkan division accounted for approximately 999 tonnes of seized food products valued at Rs 53.55 lakh, including spices, grains, dry fruits, seeds, tamarind, chia seeds and raw buffalo milk. In Badlapur, officials seized turmeric and chilli powders from Nagarik Masala over concerns about product quality, possible unauthorised colours and labelling violations. A business near Market Yard in Panvel was found with 598 kg of coriander seeds suspected to be substandard and incorrectly labelled.
Further action in Navi Mumbai’s Mahape industrial area involved raisins, almonds, salted pistachios, chia seeds, tamarind and other products. Spice businesses in Vashi and Nerul also faced seizures, including 1,487.6 kg of asafoetida valued at Rs 22.31 lakh. In Uran, Raigad district, officials seized 93 litres of raw loose buffalo milk from Shree Balaji Dairy Ice Cream and Falooda over suspicions that it was substandard and adulterated.
The Pune division reported the seizure of 211 tonnes of food products valued at Rs 79.3 lakh. The largest action involved 1,337 kg of khoa worth Rs 4.81 lakh, found being transported on the Pune-Pandharpur road within the limits of Malshiras police station. Officials also seized seasoning products in Sangli and Solapur and confiscated turmeric powder, chilli powder and meat seasonings from an establishment in Narayangaon, Pune.
In Nashik, the FDA seized 4,069 kg of food products and 622 litres of ghee with a combined value of Rs 82.5 lakh. In Chandrapur district, within the Nagpur division, officials seized 8,833 kg of oil from Musa Oil Industries after finding refined soybean oil and refined palmolein oil stored in reused containers. The department said the products were suspected to be substandard or unsafe.
The largest seizure by weight was reported in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, where approximately 26.84 tonnes of food products valued at Rs 64 lakh were seized. This included 23,700 kg of turmeric powder from Ganraj Industries in Hingoli district over suspicions of adulteration.
The FDA also reported separate action against prohibited food products. In Greater Mumbai, officials seized stock valued at Rs 4.22 lakh and registered a case at J J Marg police station. In Pune, inspections of six establishments led to seizures worth Rs 19.56 lakh, five first information reports, seven arrests, the sealing of five establishments and the seizure of two vehicles.
Seven Mumbai establishments also face licence or registration suspension following reported violations including unclean kitchens and drainage systems, improper storage of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, use of unauthorised food colours and the absence of medical certificates for workers. The FDA said inspections and enforcement action would continue against businesses found violating food safety requirements.
