|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maharashtra FDA seizes prohibited food products
|
|
Tuesday, 13 October, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
|
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has intensified its statewide crackdown on prohibited food products, seizing stock worth Rs. 79.29 lakh and three vehicles, with the total value of the seized goods, including the vehicles, reaching Rs. 1.09 crore. The enforcement drive resulted in 12 first information reports (FIRs) being registered and 13 persons arrested.
In a parallel operation, the FDA took action against 53,726 kg of food products and 6,098 litres of milk and toddy suspected to be substandard, adulterated or incorrectly labelled, with the total value of the affected stock estimated at Rs. 1.39 crore across the Konkan, Pune, Nagpur and Amravati divisions. The department also suspended the licences of 10 food establishments in Mumbai over food safety and hygiene violations.
The coordinated inspections conducted between October 6 and 9, 2026, aim to prevent the sale, storage and transportation of prohibited food products and ensure compliance with food safety, packaging, labelling and hygiene requirements. The FDA has also stepped-up surveillance of food businesses to identify violations that could compromise consumer health.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said that the department was taking enforcement action against businesses found violating food safety requirements, with the objective of preventing the circulation of prohibited and unsafe food products and ensuring that food offered to consumers meets prescribed standards. The department is pursuing cases through inspections, seizures, police complaints and licence suspensions, depending on the nature of the violations.
In the Nashik division, the FDA conducted inspections at four establishments in Jalgaon, Dhule and Nashik between October 6 and 8, seizing prohibited food products worth Rs. 23,24,217. Four FIRs were registered and five persons arrested, while two establishments were sealed and two vehicles seized.
In a separate operation on October 8, officials acted on confidential information at Nandurbar against an Eicher vehicle bearing registration number MH 48 DQ 6042 that was transporting prohibited Vimal Pan Masala and V-1 tobacco. The FDA seized the stock valued at Rs. 39,47,150 and the vehicle, estimated to be worth Rs. 30 lakh. The total value of the seizure was Rs. 69,47,150. The seized goods and vehicle were placed in the safe custody of Nandurbar City Police Station.
In the Konkan division, inspections of three establishments on October 8 resulted in the seizure of prohibited food products worth Rs. 10,88,578. Three FIRs were registered, three persons arrested and three cases filed. In the Pune division, officials seized prohibited stock worth Rs. 4,005 from one establishment, registering one FIR and one case and arresting one person.
In the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, the FDA seized prohibited food products worth Rs. 4,40,846 during inspections of two establishments on October 6 and 7. Two FIRs were registered and two persons arrested. In the Nagpur division, inspections of two establishments between October 6 and 8 led to the seizure of prohibited stock worth Rs. 1,24,110, with two FIRs registered and two persons arrested.
The FDA separately suspended the licences of 10 food establishments in Mumbai after inspections revealed deficiencies in licensing and registration, employee hygiene, premises maintenance, pest control and food storage practices.
The establishments include Huma Caterer at Islam Gymkhana; Milkoze Dairy Products Pvt. Ltd. in Kandivali East; La Pinoz Pizza in Santacruz West; F3 Corporate Hospitality Services Pvt. Ltd. at D. J. Sanghvi College of Engineering in Vile Parle West; Narayan Dosa at Charni Road; Abrar Kirana Store near J. J. Hospital; Golden Star Restaurant at Girgaon; Central Canteen at J. J. Hospital; Paliwal Dairy in Charkop, Kandivali West; and Nawab Juice Centre at Islam Gymkhana near Marine Lines station.
The violations included the absence of valid FSSAI licences or registrations, incorrect licence categories and failure to display licences prominently. Inspectors also found inadequate protective clothing for workers, including gloves, headgear and aprons, as well as missing medical certificates and FoSTaC food safety training records. Other deficiencies included unclean or damaged walls, ceilings and floors, the absence of cleaning and disinfection schedules, evidence of rats, cockroaches and flies, and inadequate pest control records.
Food storage practices were also found deficient, with inadequate refrigeration and temperature monitoring, failure to follow first-in-first-out or first-expiry-first-out procedures, and insufficient segregation of raw and cooked food and vegetarian and non-vegetarian products.
In the Konkan division, the FDA took action against a range of food products suspected to be substandard or incorrectly labelled. At Uma Exports Ltd. in Turbhe MIDC, Navi Mumbai, officials acted against 52,016 kg of areca nuts valued at Rs. 1,33,16,096 over suspected quality deficiencies and alleged violations of packaging and labelling requirements under Sections 23, 26 and 27 of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
At Shri Yog Dairy in Nanglwadi Phata, Raigad district, 40 kg of raw cow's milk worth Rs. 2,000 and 35 kg of raw buffalo milk worth Rs. 2,450 were sampled on October 7 for suspected substandard quality. At Sawariya Milk and Milk Product in Taloja MIDC, officials acted against 3,998 litres of chilled raw cow's milk valued at Rs. 1,95,902 and 598 litres of buffalo milk valued at Rs. 41,860 over labelling deficiencies and alleged violations of Sections 23, 26 and 27. At Mateshwari Foods in Taloja MIDC, action was taken against 119 kg of low-fat paneer worth Rs. 30,940 for labelling deficiencies and related statutory violations.
In Pune division, the FDA acted against 215 kg of Sp. Kaka Tikha Farsan worth Rs. 55,900 at Aaimata Farsan and Wafers in Ambegaon, Pune, over labelling violations and suspected substandard quality. At Shiv Sahyadri Milk Sankalan and Shitakaran Kendra in Kavathe Yemai, Shirur taluka, proceedings were initiated under Sections 26 and 27 after 1,484 litres of milk valued at Rs. 62,328 tested positive in an acidity test. Officials also acted against 18 litres of toddy worth Rs. 900 at Dafalapur Taddy Shop in Sangli district over suspected substandard or unsafe quality.
In Nagpur, 538 kg of bhagar, or barnyard millet, valued at Rs. 69,940 was seized from Ishwardas Kirana Bhandar in Itwari on October 8 for violations of packaging and labelling requirements. In Amravati division, the FDA seized 763.40 kg of packed refined soybean oil worth Rs. 1,36,900 from Oshiyaji Industries in Wani on suspicion of adulteration.
The FDA has urged consumers to report suspected food quality violations and other malpractices through its toll-free helpline, 1800222365, or the Food and Drug Grievance Portal at https://complaints.mahafda.in.
“The statewide drive is intended to strengthen regulatory oversight of food manufacturing, storage, distribution and retail operations, deter the circulation of prohibited products, and improve compliance with food safety standards. The department's action also highlights the need for food businesses to maintain proper licensing, hygiene, traceability, storage conditions and accurate product labelling to protect consumers from unsafe or misrepresented food products,” Mundhe concludes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|