The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a major statewide crackdown ahead of the festive season. The action was carried out between
September 17 and 20 to check adulterated, substandard and unhygienic food products. The FDA seized or destroyed around ‘32,023 kg/litres of food stock’ worth nearly Rs 1.36 crore across Maharashtra. The seized stock included ‘khoya’, ‘mawa’, ‘peda’, ‘ghee’, oil, ‘barfi’, dry fruits, jaggery, sweets and other dairy products, over ‘suspected adulteration, poor quality, unhygienic conditions and labelling violations’. In Miraj MIDC, the FDA officials seized 1,868 kg of suspected turmeric powder worth Rs 6.53 lakh, citing suspected label violations and inferior quality. Across the state, 64 hotels, restaurants, dhabas and other food establishments were inspected. Licences of 12 establishments were suspended, while improvement notices were issued to 36 establishments. The FDA also registered 14 FIRs over the sale, distribution and transportation of banned food products such as gutkha and pan masala. A total of 15 people were arrested, and banned stock worth Rs 1.38 crore was seized. In Mumbai alone, FDA has suspended the licences and registration certificates of 10 food establishments over violations of food safety and hygiene norms. Among them was a Swiggy Instamart dark store in Ballard Estate, where FDA officials said they found a live rat, rodent-gnawed rice bags, cockroaches, flies and an unhygienic washroom close to the food storage area. Its food licence has been suspended indefinitely, effective September 16. Sadguru Sweets and Farsan Mart in Malad East have also been suspended following an inspection that reported unhygienic conditions and violations of food manufacturing and hygiene practices. The FDA also suspended the licence of an Amazon-operated warehouse or dark store in Kandivali East, citing sanitation, drainage and food-storage violations. Suleman Usman Mithaiwala on Mohammed Ali Road was also ordered to face immediate licence suspension over reported hygiene violations, including concerns around food preparation and storage near drainage and waste areas. In Chembur, NICE Enterprises was ordered to stop business after its licence was suspended following an inspection that found serious deficiencies. The crackdown comes ahead of the festive season, with the FDA saying the drive is aimed at ensuring that consumers get safe, quality and adulteration-free food.
