The Pune Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized and destroyed 93 kg of sweets from two manufacturing units near Jambhulkar Chowk in Wanowrie on November 10, after suspecting that the products were substandard or unsafe for consumption. The action was taken under the Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra campaign, and the department has initiated proceedings to immediately suspend the food licences of both units.
The seized stock, collectively valued at ₹50,860, included Motichoor laddoos, Motichoor boondi and barfi. FDA officials said samples from the seized products had been sent to a laboratory to determine their quality and safety. Because the sweets were perishable, the entire stock was destroyed on the spot under the prescribed legal procedure.
The first establishment, M/s Maa Karachi Sweets Mart, located at Survey No. 77/7 near Jambhulkar Chowk, had 23 kg of sweets seized. This included 18 kg of Motichoor laddoos valued at ₹10,800 and 5 kg of barfi valued at ₹5,000. The total value of the stock seized from the unit was ₹15,800.
The second establishment, M/s Shri Mohan Karachi Sweets Mart, located at Survey Nos. 77/7 and 77/6, had 70 kg of sweets seized. The stock comprised 41 kg of Motichoor boondi valued at ₹14,760 and 29 kg of barfi valued at ₹20,300. The total value of the seizure from this unit was ₹35,060.
The FDA has described the products as suspected to be substandard or unsafe, but the final laboratory findings were not included in the report of the action. The proposed suspension of the two food licences relates to alleged violations of food safety regulations, with further proceedings expected under the applicable rules.
The operation was conducted by Food Safety Officers P. N. Chavan and P. J. Jadhav from FDA Pune Division-1. They acted under the guidance of Pune Division Assistant Commissioner N. B. Khose and on the directions of S. R. Karkale, Joint Commissioner (Food), FDA Maharashtra.
The action places scrutiny on the regulatory chain governing food manufacturing units in dense urban neighbourhoods such as Wanowrie, where local establishments serve nearby residents and businesses. In this case, the FDA’s immediate response involved inspection, seizure, destruction of perishable stock, laboratory testing and proposed licence action.
The administration said that strict action against food businesses found violating food safety standards would continue under the Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra campaign. The laboratory examination of the collected samples and the licence suspension proceedings are the next steps in the case.
