The Pune division of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) destroyed 303 kg of suspected substandard barfi and kalakand during a raid at a sweet shop in Dhanore, in Khed taluka, after finding the perishable stock stored at room temperature without mandatory labelling or purchase invoices.
The action was carried out at Me. R. Bikaner Sweets, located at Mauli Complex on the Markal-Markal road in Dhanore, under the FDA’s ‘Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra’ campaign. The inspection team found a combined stock of barfi and kalakand weighing 303 kg at the retail outlet.
According to the report, the barfi stock was being stored at room temperature. The products did not carry the labelling required under food safety rules, and the shop did not have purchase bills for the sweets. The FDA described the stock as health-wise unsuitable and suspected to be of substandard quality.
Because barfi is a highly perishable food product, the inspection team destroyed the entire stock at the premises, citing the need to protect consumers’ health. The action removes the identified stock from sale, but the supplied report does not state whether any consumer illness was reported or whether the shop was closed.
A sample of the kalakand found at the shop was sent to a laboratory for further legal examination and analysis. The laboratory process will determine the next stage of action related to that product. The report does not provide the quantity of kalakand separately or disclose when the analysis will be completed.
Food Safety Officer R. R. Marewar conducted the raid. The operation was carried out under the guidance of S. N. Chatte, regional assistant commissioner of the FDA, and S. Karkale, joint commissioner for food. The inspection findings place attention on basic compliance requirements for shops selling perishable sweets, including storage conditions, product labelling and traceable purchase records.
The FDA said enforcement under the ‘Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra’ campaign would be intensified. The administration also warned that strict action would be taken against those found compromising citizens’ health. Further legal action connected with the kalakand sample will depend on the laboratory examination and the department’s subsequent process.
