Pune FDA raids across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and the district have led to the seizure of food products worth Rs 9.39 lakh, with around 1,500 kg of substandard items destroyed on the spot ahead of Diwali. The Food and Drug Administration also suspended some licences and issued business closure notices to establishments operating without valid permissions.
The action covered 10 locations and focused on sweet shops, dairy products and food production centres. According to the report, officials found violations involving food quality, storage, handling, hygiene, licensing and temperature-control requirements.
At Karachi Sweet Mart in Pune’s Camp area, officials seized and destroyed 186 kg of motichoor ladoos, khoya and malai peda valued at Rs 90,000. The inspection found the use of synthetic food colours, although records showing the quantity used were not available. Officials also found violations involving purchase records for khoya, storage and temperature control, as well as the use of expired Choco Sticks. The establishment’s licence was suspended immediately.
Pournima Sweets in Wanowrie and Janata Sweets in Mundhwa were issued notices to stop business because they did not have valid licences. A total of 58 kg of kalakand valued at Rs 37,000 was seized from Pournima Sweets. At New Quality Dairy Farm in Shivajinagar, officials seized 104 kg of curd, cream, cow’s milk, paneer and ghee valued at Rs 31,000.
At Bikaner Mithaiwale in Mohammadwadi, 268 kg of burfi worth Rs 88,000 was seized and destroyed because of improper storage and handling. In Man village of Mulshi taluka, officials seized 486 kg of rabdi and rasgulla valued at Rs 1.75 lakh from Chamunda Maa Rabdiwala, citing improper storage and poor quality.
A further seizure was made at Shri Ganesh Ladu Wale in Shikrapur, where officials found 605 kg of ladoos and Mysore pak valued at Rs 1.25 lakh. The products were reportedly being prepared without a licence and in unhygienic conditions. At Rajmilan Sweets in Manchar, 250 kg of sweet-making mawa worth Rs 80,000 was seized and destroyed.
The FDA also raided Ambika Foods, a production centre in Shiroli, Khed taluka, and seized 648 kg of son papdi valued at Rs 1.62 lakh. The production centre’s licence was suspended. Action was also taken at Bhail Sweets in Pimple Saudagar and Puneri Sweets in Kalewadi, from where 92.5 kg and 35 kg of food products respectively were seized and destroyed.
The inspections underline the role of licensing, traceability, storage conditions and temperature control in regulating seasonal food production. The source report did not specify the further legal proceedings or penalties that may follow the licence suspensions and closure notices.
