The Pune Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized and destroyed 1,491 kg of sweets from two establishments in Kondhwa Budruk and Dhanori ahead of Diwali, citing suspected quality, storage, labelling and documentation violations. The action was taken under the state’s ‘Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra’ campaign, which is targeting sweet manufacturers and sellers during the festive season.
The seized stock was valued at approximately Rs 2,94,900. At Gayatri Ladoo Bhandar in Tilekar Nagar, Kondhwa Budruk, an FDA team led by food safety officer K. V. Baravkar seized and destroyed 1,188 kg of products. This included 1,008 kg of motichoor ladoos valued at Rs 1,51,200 and 180 kg of motichoor boondi valued at Rs 22,500.
The material was suspected to be adulterated or incorrectly labelled, according to the report. The FDA destroyed the entire stock after considering the potential risk to consumers. The food production licence of Gayatri Ladoo Bhandar, owned by Pukhraj Nagadram Chaudhary, was also suspended with immediate effect.
A separate inspection was conducted at R. Bikaner Sweets Centre in Mauli Complex on the Alandi-Markal road in Dhanori, in the Khed taluka area. Officials found 303 kg of barfi, estimated to be worth Rs 1,21,200. The stock was reportedly suspected to be of substandard quality and had been stored at room temperature despite being perishable.
The FDA also found that the barfi did not carry the required labelling and that purchase invoices were unavailable. Since the product was perishable, the entire stock was destroyed at the premises. A sample of kalakand from the same establishment has been collected and sent for laboratory testing. The action in Dhanori was conducted by food safety officer H. R. Marewar.
The inspections were carried out under the guidance of regional assistant commissioner S. N. Chatte and joint commissioner for food S. Karkale. The department has asked food businesses to comply with requirements relating to appropriate storage temperatures, mandatory labelling and the maintenance of purchase bills.
The action highlights the enforcement burden faced by food regulators during periods when demand for sweets rises sharply. While the seized stock was removed before sale, the FDA’s findings also point to the role of basic compliance systems in protecting consumers: perishable products must be stored appropriately, labels must provide required information and purchase records must be maintained.
The FDA has appealed to consumers to remain alert while buying sweets during the festive season and to check product labelling and storage conditions. The laboratory report on the kalakand sample will determine the next step in that specific case.
