The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized food products worth more than Rs 9 crore and suspended the licences of 19 food business operators, including a super distributor of Patanjali Ayurved, during a special festive-season enforcement drive across the state.
In an official statement on Monday, the FDA said approximately 3.53 lakh kg of food articles, collectively valued at Rs 9.01 crore, were seized from 114 establishments spread across seven divisions of Maharashtra.
Among the seized products were 2,279.7 litres of Patanjali cow ghee worth Rs 20.20 lakh, recovered from M/s Divya Mahavitarak, a super distributor of Patanjali Ayurved in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The action was taken on suspicion of misbranding and adulteration,
the agency said.
The seized consignment comprised 4,032 units of ghee. Of these, 2,998 units, containing 1,349.1 litres and valued at Rs 12.29 lakh, were seized along with another 1,034 units containing 930.6 litres worth Rs 7.91 lakh.
According to the FDA, the stock was prima facie found to be in violation of provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Why Were 19 Food Business Operators’ Licenses Suspended?
The FDA also suspended the licences and registrations of 19 establishments, including manufacturers of namkeen, sweets and spices operating in the Mumbai, Amravati and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar divisions.
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Inspections revealed several food safety violations, including poor hygiene, improper storage of food products, inadequate pest-control arrangements and the absence of cleaning and maintenance records.
Some establishments also failed to maintain mandatory documentation and comply with prescribed food safety standards.
The crackdown extended to major food stock seizures at multiple locations. The FDA confiscated 1,44,218 kg of edible oil from Avenue Supermarts Ltd in Bhiwandi, in Thane district.
Another 20,560 kg of rice, pulses, jaggery and other food items were seized from Amin Traders in Satara.
In the Pune division, authorities also seized edible oil from Swati Oil Mills in Satara and S G Traders in Solapur.
Banned Food Products Worth Rs 79 Lakh Seized
The FDA said its enforcement action between October 28 and 31 also led to the seizure of prohibited food products worth Rs 79.40 lakh from 17 establishments.
During the same period, 13 FIRs were registered, and 16 people were arrested. Authorities also sealed seven establishments and seized six vehicles as part of the operation.
Separately, food safety officials inspected 34 hotels, restaurants and dhabas across the Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur divisions. Following the inspections, 29 improvement notices were issued over hygiene and food safety shortcomings.
The agency said the enforcement measures were carried out under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations framed under it.
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FSSAI Issues Notices To Tata 1MG, Amazon, Flipkart
In a separate development, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued show-cause notices to Tata 1mg Healthcare Solutions, ACFO Pharmaceuticals, Amazon Seller Services and Flipkart India over alleged violations concerning the labelling and advertising of Tata 1mg Marine Collagen Powder.
The companies have been directed to submit their explanations within 30 days, the FDA said.
With inputs from PTI
