Mumbai News: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stepped up inspections and enforcement against food safety violations across the state, with action taken against manufacturers, warehouses,
retailers and other food establishments.
The latest drive, conducted between August 6 and 9, covered products ranging from edible oil, dairy items, paneer and packaged drinking water to bakery products, jaggery and cheese analogue. The department also targeted prohibited products, including gutkha, pan masala, scented tobacco and scented supari.
The enforcement has resulted in large-scale seizures, licence suspensions, FIRs and arrests. Separately, the Bombay High Court has directed Amazon Retail India to hand over expired and perished food products from its Bhiwandi warehouse to the FDA for disposal.
The action is part of the Maharashtra FDA’s wider food safety enforcement drive under Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, who has maintained that the department will take strict action against businesses found violating food safety rules.
Blink Commerce Facility In Malad Faces Licence Suspension
According to a report in Mid-Day, A Blink Commerce Private Limited facility in Malad West, Mumbai, was among the establishments facing action after an FDA inspection on August 7. According to officials, inspectors found several alleged hygiene and storage-related violations at the facility.
These included a widespread cockroach infestation, food products kept directly on the floor, rusted storage racks and inadequately maintained cold-storage facilities.
The inspection also reportedly uncovered expired or tampered packages and violations of FIFO and FEFO stock-management practices. These systems are intended to ensure that food products are used or sold in the appropriate order based on their stocking or expiry dates.
The FDA further cited shortcomings in pest and rodent-control measures, waste disposal, medical examinations and health records for food handlers. Officials also flagged inadequate personal hygiene and insufficient protective equipment.
Cockroaches were allegedly found in large numbers around vegetable and fruit stocks, raising concerns about possible contamination. Expired, damaged and tampered packages were also reportedly found inside cold-storage rooms.
The FDA suspended the facility’s food licence under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The establishment has been prohibited from conducting food-related business until further orders.
Beed Sees Massive Edible Oil Seizure
One of the largest actions in the latest drive took place in Beed, where FDA officials seized 1,19,187.5 kg of edible oil valued at Rs 1.54 crore. The seizure followed inspections at five manufacturing and repacking units conducted on August 6 and 7. Officials collected 27 samples and sent them for laboratory analysis.
At Swagat Oil Industries in MIDC, Beed, officials allegedly discovered reused tins and found oil from the same tank being packed and marketed under the labels ‘Refined’ and ‘Ultra Refined’.
The FDA confiscated 66,652.6 kg of edible oil worth Rs 1.05 crore from the unit. The seized stock included refined soybean and palm oils as well as products marketed under the Swagat Gold, Goodluck and Swastik brands.
Ten samples were sent for testing. The unit’s FSSAI licence was suspended and its premises were shut.
At Charkha Oil Mill, inspectors reportedly found reused tins, irregularities in labelling and unhygienic conditions. The FDA seized 45,995.7 kg of edible oil valued at Rs 78.22 lakh and sent 11 samples for laboratory examination. The unit was subsequently closed.
Another 4,545.2 kg of edible oil worth Rs 7.24 lakh was seized from Jai Hanuman Traders in Wadwani. Three samples were collected for testing, and the establishment was shut after its licence was suspended.
The department also seized 1,746 kg of loose refined soybean oil worth Rs 2.79 lakh from Janhavi Commercials in Majalgaon.
From Vinayak Oil Industries, officials seized another 248 kg of edible oil valued at Rs 39,680.
Both establishments were closed following suspension of their licences.
The FDA has advised consumers buying edible oil to check key details, including the FSSAI number, manufacturing date, batch number, expiry date and mandatory information on the label.
Cheese Analogue Destroyed In Nagpur
The FDA continued its action against cheese analogue under its ‘Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra’ campaign. At Chandra Dairy in Pili Nadi, Wanjara, and Shivam Dairy Food Products at Itha Bhatti Chowk in Nagpur, the department said 13,866 kg of curd and cheese analogue worth Rs 12.16 lakh was destroyed.
The action followed the Maharashtra food safety notification dated July 30, 2026, which prohibits the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of cheese analogue in the state.
The FDA said enforcement against businesses manufacturing or selling the prohibited product would continue.
Paneer Seized In Ulhasnagar And Vasai
The department also inspected food establishments in the Palghar, Thane and Navi Mumbai areas over suspected violations involving dairy products.
At Gaikwad Distributors in Ulhasnagar, officials seized 99 kg of low-fat paneer worth Rs 34,650. The FDA cited unhygienic conditions and improper storage temperatures.
Another Ulhasnagar establishment operated by Gurunath Tukaram Sadgir was found with 64 kg of low-fat paneer valued at Rs 18,560.
At Shreeyash Dairy Products in Vasai East, the FDA seized 173 kg of paneer worth Rs 48,960.
In Nandgaon, officials seized 196 kg/litres of cow milk worth Rs 7,840 from an establishment operated by Chandrakant Garud on August 7.
The department said the milk had been stored in unhygienic conditions and was suspected to be unsafe. Further legal action is expected.
87,320 Litres Of Packaged Drinking Water Seized
In Jalgaon, an FDA inspection conducted on August 6 resulted in the seizure of 87,320 litres of Oxyca-branded packaged drinking water worth Rs 8.73 lakh.
The stock was seized from Anita Industries in MIDC, Jalgaon.
Nagpur Rusk Maker Penalised Over Labelling
FDA officials in Nagpur also acted against Ajit Delight Pvt Ltd in Butibori after identifying labelling violations on rusk containing the artificial sweetener INS 951. A total of 9,827 kg of rusk valued at Rs 14.13 lakh was seized.
According to the FDA, the product labels did not include mandatory declarations concerning artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners.
These include the required warning that the product is not recommended for children and, where applicable, a declaration for people with phenylketonuria.
Kolhapur Jaggery Unit Raided
At Varad Jaggery in Bhuyewadi, Kolhapur, FDA officials reported unhygienic manufacturing conditions and suspected adulteration during the production process.
The department seized 450 kg of jaggery worth Rs 20,250 along with 500 kg of white crystal sugar valued at Rs 22,500.
Together, the seized material weighed 950 kg and was valued at Rs 42,750.
Cashew Stock Seized In Buldhana
The FDA inspected Reliance Retail Limited’s ARD Cinemall in Buldhana on August 8 following a complaint alleging fungal growth and live insects in Laxmi Narayan brand cashew pieces.
The specific batch referred to in the complaint was not available at the outlet when officials arrived. However, inspectors found another batch of the product in stock and collected a sample for laboratory examination.
The FDA seized 54 boxes weighing 11.340 kg and valued at Rs 10,238.
Officials said any further action will be determined after the laboratory report is received.
Gutkha And Pan Masala Action Leads To 11 Arrests
The latest enforcement drive also focused on prohibited tobacco-related products, including gutkha, pan masala, scented tobacco and scented supari.
The FDA inspected 10 establishments across Maharashtra and reported finding prohibited products at each of them. The operation led to the seizure of stock worth Rs 63,206.50, registration of eight FIRs and 11 arrests. Seven establishments were sealed.
Pune accounted for six of the inspections, four FIRs and six arrests.
In Konkan, officials registered one FIR and arrested two people. Nashik recorded one FIR, with no arrests reported.
Nagpur registered two FIRs and made three arrests.
90 Hotels, Restaurants And Dhabas Checked
The FDA also inspected hotels, restaurants and dhabas as part of its latest enforcement activity. According to divisional data, 90 establishments were inspected between August 7 and 9.
Eight establishments received improvement notices, while one licence was suspended. No licence was cancelled during these inspections.
Pune accounted for the largest share of inspections, with 78 establishments checked.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar recorded nine inspections, while Greater Mumbai, Konkan and Nagpur each recorded one.
High Court Directs Amazon To Hand Over Expired Goods
The FDA’s action has also resulted in proceedings before the Bombay High Court concerning Amazon Retail India’s warehouse in Bhiwandi, Thane district. On Monday, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad directed Amazon to prepare an inventory of all expired and perished products at the warehouse and hand them over to the FDA.
The concerned FDA officer will then take steps for their disposal as required under the law. The court also directed Amazon to bear the cost of the disposal exercise.
The High Court further asked the FDA to file its affidavit responding to Amazon’s challenge against the suspension of its warehouse licence by August 27.
Why Amazon Approached The High Court
Amazon Retail India moved the High Court after the FDA took action against its Bhiwandi facility over allegations that expired food products were being sent into the retail market instead of being destroyed. As an interim measure, the court directed Amazon to draw up an inventory of the expired and perished goods and transfer them to the FDA officer for disposal.
According to Amazon’s plea, FDA officials inspected the warehouse on June 24 and suspended its licence the following day without first issuing an improvement notice. Amazon subsequently filed an appeal before the relevant authority.
While that appeal was pending, the FDA issued a show-cause notice to the company on July 1 and later cancelled the licence.
Court Questions FDA’s Enforcement Approach
The Amazon proceedings come shortly after the High Court criticised the manner in which the FDA was carrying out some of its enforcement actions, as reported by Mid-Day. The court said that although the agency was vigorously implementing its policy, it needed to follow a more systematic approach. It remarked that the FDA was “trying to kill a mosquito with a sword” and advised the department to act in a more proportionate manner.
The FDA has been conducting a series of raids and inspections across Maharashtra since Tukaram Mundhe was appointed to head the department in May.
FDA Asks Citizens To Report Food Safety Violations
The department has also appealed to consumers to report suspected food safety violations. Complaints can be submitted through the FoSCoS Portal, Food Safety Connect app, toll-free number 1800-222-365 or the Food & Drug Grievance Portal.
When filing a complaint, citizens have been asked to provide their contact details, the precise address of the establishment involved and information about the suspected adulterated or unsafe food product.
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the state administration had adopted a strict approach towards food safety and would not compromise on public health. He said citizens have a right to safe and pure food and warned that action would continue against businesses found adulterating food or manufacturing, storing, selling or distributing prohibited products.
The latest operation has therefore combined inspections, product seizures, licence suspensions, arrests and legal proceedings, while the Bombay High Court case involving Amazon is set to continue with the FDA’s response due by August 27.
