The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized 3,196.2 kg of food products during a festive-season enforcement drive across Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Sangli and Kolhapur, destroying 1,440.5 kg of the stock and suspending the licences of eight establishments.
According to the report, the inspections covered 15 food establishments. The seized stock was valued at Rs 16.93 lakh, while the destroyed material was worth Rs 4.35 lakh. Three establishments were also ordered to stop business operations.
The action followed violations relating to the production, storage, handling and labelling of food products. The drive was conducted to ensure that consumers receive safe and quality food during the festive period, when demand for sweets and dairy products increases.
At Karachi Sweet Mart, a sweets production centre in Pune’s Camp area, officials seized and destroyed 186 kg of motichoor laddus, khoya and malai peda valued at Rs 90,780. The inspection found that records on the use of synthetic food colours were not maintained, rules for storing and handling khoya were not followed, expired chocolate sticks were being used and provisions under Schedule 4 of the food safety regulations had been violated. The establishment’s licence was suspended with immediate effect.
At Shri Ganesh Ladduwale in Shikrapur, officials seized and destroyed 605 kg of Mysore pak, motichoor laddus and besan laddus worth Rs 1.22 lakh. Production was reportedly taking place in unhygienic conditions and without the required licence. At Rajmilan Sweets in Manchar, 250 kg of suspected substandard meetha mawa valued at Rs 80,000 was seized and destroyed after officials cited unhygienic preparation conditions.
Other action was reported across Pune city and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Bhayal Sweets in Pimple Saudagar had 92.5 kg of motichoor laddus, Bombay halwa and zero sev seized. Puneeri Sweets in Kalewadi had 35 kg of kalakand worth Rs 19,600 seized and destroyed, while 58 kg of kalakand valued at Rs 37,120 was seized from Paurnima Sweets in Wanowrie. A business closure notice was issued to Paurnima Sweets for allegedly operating without a licence or registration.
At Chamunda Maa Rabdiwala in Man Bodkewadi, Mulshi, officials seized 486 kg of malai rabdi and anguri rasgulla valued at Rs 1.75 lakh. The inspection found deficiencies involving labelling, cleanliness and other food safety requirements. New Quality Dairy Farm in Shivajinagar village had 104.7 kg of curd, cream, cow’s milk, paneer and ghee seized, while 268 kg of barfi valued at Rs 88,440 was seized and destroyed at Bikaner Mithaiwale in Mohammadwadi because of improper storage and handling.
A closure notice was issued to Janata Sweets in Keshavnagar-Mundhwa for allegedly operating without a valid FSSAI licence or registration. At Ambika Foods, a soan papdi production centre in Shiroli, Khed, officials seized 648 kg of suspected substandard and incorrectly labelled product. This included 390 kg of Rajaram brand soan papdi valued at Rs 97,500 and 258 kg of Mr King brand product valued at Rs 64,500. The production centre’s licence was suspended with immediate effect for violations of food safety requirements.
