The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has initiated significant action by suspending the licences of 31 food establishments for breaching food safety and hygiene regulations during a crackdown that coincided with the festive season across the state. This operation took place between September 28 and 30 and involved inspections at various establishments such as hotels, restaurants, dhabas, clubs, and bakeries.

Among the establishments affected, twelve were located in the Mumbai division, twelve in the Konkan division, six in Pune division, and one in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division. In total, the FDA seized approximately 3,902.20 kg of food items deemed substandard, unsafe, or misbranded, as well as 617 litres of milk, with an estimated total value of Rs 16.22 lakh.

The seized products encompassed a wide range, including sweets, cheese, ghee, paneer, cream, almonds, skimmed milk powder, edible oils, cashews, ajwain, khoa, and puffed rice. The FDA highlighted that the violations noted during the inspections included poor sanitation practices, pest infestations, improper storage and handling of food, lacking medical fitness documentation for food handlers, and failing to maintain requisite food safety records.

Details of Suspended Establishments

In Mumbai, the establishments whose licences were suspended included Annadata Aahar Kendra located in Khar, New English Bakery and St Philomena Bakery in Mazgaon, among others, including two facilities of Blink Commerce. Notable closures also included Radha Krishna eatery in Borivali, Sodexo India Services in Kurla, and PR Jena Caterers in BKC, as well as the canteen at Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi.

Furthermore, the FDA issued an immediate closure order for Dhole Food Products in Beed after discovering it was producing food items at an unlicensed new location. Products valued at Rs 1.17 lakh were seized there, and samples of chiwda, farsan, and other items were sent for analysis. Reports confirmed seizure of 430 kg of cheese allegedly marketed under the Amul brand in Pune.

It comes alongside 18.20 kg of loose paneer in Kolhapur and 2,398 kg of skimmed milk powder worth approximately Rs 5.27 lakh in Ahilyanagar. Additional seizures included 34 kg of ghee and 119 kg of cow cream in Sangli, 423 kg of almonds in Pune, as well as a variety of other products such as sweets, namkeen, mustard oil, sunflower oil, loose cashews, ajwain, khoa, and puffed rice.

Action Against Banned Food Products

In a separate initiative, the FDA conducted a drive targeting banned food items like pan masala and gutkha across five divisions. Inspections were carried out at 19 establishments, revealing banned products in 18 of them. Stock worth Rs 61.17 lakh was seized, along with two vehicles valued at Rs 6.50 lakh, culminating in a total seizure of Rs 67.67 lakh.

As a result of these operations, fourteen FIRs were lodged, and 18 individuals were arrested, alongside the sealing of 13 establishments. Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe provided assurances that the government is taking a stringent stance on the quality of food products within Maharashtra.

Mundhe further stated that strict legal actions would persist against establishments engaged in selling or storing expired or tampered food products or preparing food under unhygienic and unsafe conditions. The FDA has made an appeal to food business operators to adhere to the prescribed food safety and hygiene standards.

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