Maharashtra FDA seizes over 50 tonnes of food stock in festive crackdown
In a massive festive crackdown, Maharashtra FDA seized over 50 tonnes of food products worth Rs 1.20 crore due to hygiene and safety violations.
In a massive pre-festive crackdown, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized more than 50 tonnes of food products worth approximately Rs 1.20 crore. The statewide operation, conducted between September 23 and 27, targeted various food establishments across multiple districts to ensure public safety during the upcoming holiday season.
According to official data, the department confiscated a total of 50,601.78 kg of stock, valued at Rs 1,19,90,792. The seized items spanned a wide variety of consumables, including sweets, milk and milk products, edible oil, rice, dry fruits, namkeen, spices, and noodles.
Massive hygiene violations and license suspensions
The crackdown resulted in the suspension of licenses or registration certificates for 30 food establishments across the state. The disciplinary actions were distributed as follows:
- Mumbai: 13 establishments
- Konkan Division: 6 establishments
- Pune Division: 8 establishments
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Division: 3 establishments
Inspections in Mumbai revealed stomach-churning sanitary conditions. In one particular facility, officials encountered pest infestations, including cats, rat droppings, live flies, and dead cockroaches within food preparation and storage zones. Even more disturbing were reports of blood accumulating inside a refrigerator and an open sewage manhole located directly in the processing section. In another instance, raw dough was found covered with printed newspapers, and uncovered food was kept dangerously close to dirty mop water.
Regional breakdown of the seizure
The FDA's sweeping operations were not limited to the state capital. The crackdown extended deep into various divisions, uncovering substandard and misbranded goods:
- Konkan Division: Officials seized roughly 23,806.90 kg of food products worth Rs 39.99 lakh across Thane, Navi Mumbai, Raigad, and Sindhudurg.
- Pune Division: About 6,366.88 kg of items, including khoa, paneer, ghee, and sweets, worth Rs 28.54 lakh were confiscated due to suspected adulteration.
- Nagpur, Bhandara, and Chandrapur: Food products valued at Rs 32.74 lakh were seized, with allegations involving artificial coloring and unlicensed production.
- Jalgaon: Nearly 7,750 kg of food, including rice and sweets, worth Rs 4.28 lakh was seized for quality and labeling violations.
- Akola: Approximately 1,097 kg of sweets worth Rs 2.94 lakh were seized after being transported in unhygienic conditions.
In Jogeshwari, a significant seizure of 7,340 kg of edible oil worth Rs 11.81 lakh was made after officials discovered that reused tins were being utilized for packaging, violating strict storage and quality requirements.
The FDA has confirmed that legal proceedings are being initiated against the offending food business operators to ensure strict compliance with food safety standards across Maharashtra.