With Diwali approaching, Maharashtra’s Tukaram Mundhe-led Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stepped up its crackdown on food adulteration and violations of food safety norms across the state. The
department has seized goods worth ₹16.92 crore, suspended the licences of 68 establishments, and ordered seven units to shut down as part of its ‘Festive Crackdown’ campaign. The drive also resulted in 22 cases being registered and 20 people being arrested. Officials seized 8,392 kg of expired, spoiled and rejected food stock during the operation. The campaign covered all six FDA divisions — Mumbai, Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur — with officials targeting businesses suspected of selling adulterated food and flouting safety regulations.
₹9.11 CRORE WORTH OF FOOD STOCK SEIZED DURING NAVRATRI
During the recently concluded Navratri festival, the FDA seized food stock valued at ₹9.11 crore across Maharashtra. The department has also intensified action against the sale and distribution of gutkha, pan masala and tobacco products, with seizures in this category valued at ₹3.15 crore.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar accounted for food stock seizures worth ₹4.19 crore, according to the information provided by the department. The FDA has warned businesses against returning discarded or rejected food products to the market. Officials are also focusing on violations that could put consumers at risk during the festive season, when demand for sweets, khoya, cooking oil, dry fruits and traditional Diwali snacks rises sharply.
1,337 KG OF KHOYA SEIZED IN SOLAPUR DISTRICT
In a separate operation ahead of Diwali, the FDA’s Solapur Division, Zone 2, seized approximately 1,337 kg of khoya from a vehicle intercepted on the Pune-Pandharpur Road in Malshiras. According to the department, the vehicle, bearing registration number MH 25 AJ 4023, was transporting khoya made by three manufacturers at different locations in Dharashiv district. The consignment was reportedly headed to wholesale and retail sellers in Satara city for distribution.
Officials inspected the consignment after finding that the khoya was being transported without adequate compliance with prescribed requirements. Since the product was perishable, the seized stock was destroyed by burying it in a pit following the inspection. The value of the seized consignment was estimated at ₹4.81 lakh.
MORE INSPECTIONS EXPECTED BEFORE DIWALI
The FDA is expected to continue inspections as festive demand gathers pace. Sweets, khoya, edible oils, dry fruits and ready-to-eat festive preparations are likely to remain under scrutiny. The department’s campaign is aimed at preventing adulterated, expired and unsafe food from reaching consumers. Businesses found violating food safety rules may face further action, including licence suspension, closure orders and prosecution, depending on the nature of the violations.
With several days of festive shopping still ahead, the scale of enforcement will be closely watched as authorities attempt to curb food adulteration and the sale of unsafe products across Maharashtra.
