Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration seized and destroyed suspected adulterated, substandard and unhygienic food items worth Rs 1.36 crore during a four-day statewide enforcement drive ahead of the festive season, suspending the licences of 12 establishments and issuing improvement notices to 36 others.
The special inspections were conducted between September 17 and September 20 across hotels, restaurants and dhabas. According to an official statement issued by the Maharashtra FDA, enforcement teams inspected 64 food establishments to check compliance with food safety and hygiene requirements.
The operation resulted in the seizure or destruction of approximately 32,023 kg or litres of suspected substandard, unhygienic or misbranded food articles valued at Rs 1,36,20,735. The products included khoya, mawa, peda, ghee, edible oil, barfi, dried fruits and raisins, jaggery, sweets and other dairy products commonly sold during the festive period.
In a separate action at Miraj MIDC, FDA officials seized 1,868 kg of suspected substandard turmeric powder valued at Rs 6.53 lakh. The action was taken over alleged labelling violations and concerns about the product’s quality.
FDA teams in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar also intercepted a consignment of adulterated sweets arriving from Gujarat. Shrikant Karkade, Joint Commissioner of the Food and Drugs Department in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, told ANI that officers acted on confidential intelligence about transport trucks entering the area near Shahnoor Dargah.
Authorities seized approximately 4,000 to 4,765 kg of khoya-based sweets valued at nearly Rs 7.6 lakh. Karkade said the products were allegedly made using cheaper substitutes, including palm oil, vanaspati and added sugar, instead of pure dairy. Legal notices are being served to the transporters, manufacturers and retailers involved, he said.
The statewide drive also targeted banned gutkha and pan masala products. Officials registered 14 first information reports related to the illegal sale, storage and transport of the banned products, arrested 15 people and seized contraband valued at Rs 1.38 crore.
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said Maharashtra follows a zero-tolerance policy towards food adulteration. “Playing with the health of consumers and the public will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” Mundhe said, adding that legal action would continue against establishments selling or storing expired or adulterated food or preparing food in unsafe and unhygienic conditions.
The FDA has asked citizens to report suspected food adulteration and other malpractices through its toll-free helpline, 1800222365, or the state’s dedicated grievance portal.
