Expired food relabelled and resold, Maharashtra FDA uncovers Thane racket

Representational Image. Pic/Pixabay

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has busted an interstate racket involved in recirculating expired and damaged food items back into the commercial market, an official said on Monday, reported PTI.

The FDA authorities seized illegal food stock worth over Rs 52 lakh in raids at establishments in Bhiwandi town of Thane district, the official said, reported PTI.

It suspended the food safety licence of a warehouse in Saravali after uncovering 1.5 tonnes of unbilled, expired food items worth Rs 1.67 lakh. In a parallel operation, the Nizampura police intercepted an interstate truck carrying 1,200 kg of expired flour and branded products worth Rs 5.18 lakh without any valid invoices, he said, reported PTI.

This followed raids at eight establishments in Bhiwandi that yielded undocumented, expired stock worth Rs 45.74 lakh.

According to the FDA, the syndicate's modus operandi involved large e-commerce and logistics firms hiring unauthorised scrap agencies, which fabricated disposal certificates and covertly diverted expired food products to unregistered warehouses, reported PTI.

Operators then used chemicals to erase original expiry dates, applied counterfeit manufacturing stickers, and resold the products at discounted rates, he said.

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has warned that logistics firms violating newly issued stringent disposal norms, including mandatory geo-tagged video tracking and separate locked zones for expired goods, will face immediate, permanent license cancellation and criminal prosecution, reported PTI.

After food-poisoning outbreak, Bhiwandi civic body gives eateries 8 days to submit licences

Meanwhile, in a massive crackdown against unauthorised food vendors, the civic authorities in Bhiwandi town of Maharashtra have given establishments an eight-day deadline to submit their licences, an official said on June 27, reported PTI

The action comes after a food poisoning outbreak in the town that left around 100 people hospitalised last week. Several fell ill after consuming snacks at a local establishment on June 17.

The Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC) Deputy Commissioner (Licensing) Balkrishna Kshirsagar issued a strict eight-day ultimatum to all hotels, restaurants, bakeries, and street stalls to submit updated licenses to their respective ward offices, the official said, reported PTI.

Under Section 381(B) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act 1949, selling cooked food, ice cream, juice, or cut fruits without the Commissioner's license is strictly prohibited, he said.

Establishments have to submit seven mandatory documents, including FSSAI registration, municipal trade licenses, and fire NOCs, the official said, warning that failure to comply within eight days will result in heavy fines, license suspension, or the sealing of premises.

(With inputs from PTI)