27 October,2026 08:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Unhygienic conditions at Bikaner Mithaiwala in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (left), expired stock seized at Cloudstore Retail Pvt Ltd in Padgha (centre), and packets of expired packaged food seized at Curated Foods in Goregaon (right). Pic/FDA
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized food articles worth Rs 25.54 lakh from 14 establishments across the state during a two-day inspection drive on October 25 and 26.
The seized stock included expired packaged food, unlabelled products and food suspected to be substandard or adulterated.
The Maharashtra FDA crackdown covered all divisions, with officials flagging violations such as unhygienic manufacturing and packaging, improper labelling, and the absence of valid licences or registrations.
The FDA seized approximately 9,385 kg of food articles, 7,566 packets of expired packaged food, 7,104 bottles of carbonated beverages and 88 litres of milk. The seized products included sweets, mawa, namkeen, shev, chivda, chips, dry fruits, roasted almonds, soya chunks, wheat flour, desiccated coconut powder, instant gulab jamun mix and food additives.
The department said the seizures were carried out over suspected food safety violations, including the sale of improperly labelled products, unhygienic manufacturing practices and suspected adulteration.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division accounted for the highest number of establishments raided during the Maharashtra FDA crackdown, with six units inspected and food articles worth Rs 7.09 lakh seized. The haul included 3,622.1 kg of food products and 7,104 bottles of carbonated beverages.
In Greater Mumbai, the FDA seized 752.8 kg of chips, dry fruits and roasted almonds worth Rs 6.99 lakh from two establishments. In the Konkan division, officials seized 7,566 packets of expired packaged food worth Rs 6.88 lakh from one establishment.
Nagpur division reported the seizure of 2,674 kg of desiccated coconut powder worth Rs 2.67 lakh from one establishment.
In Amravati, two establishments were found with food articles and milk worth Rs 1 lakh, while 2,100 kg of wheat flour worth Rs 71,500 was seized from one establishment in Nashik. In Pune, officials seized 87.6 kg of anarse sweets worth Rs 17,520.
In Greater Mumbai, M/s Ananta Food Products in Bhandup West was found selling packaged food without proper labels. The FDA seized 62.8 kg of multigrain, beetroot and spinach-broccoli chips worth Rs 20,730.
At M/s Curated Foods on Aarey Road in Goregaon East, officials seized 690 kg of mixed dry fruits and roasted almonds valued at Rs 6.78 lakh.
In the Konkan division, Cloudstore Retail Pvt Ltd in Padgha-Bhiwandi, Thane district, was found with 7,566 packets of expired packaged food worth Rs 6.88 lakh.
The company allegedly failed to produce records showing the disposal of expired stock.
In Pune, the FDA seized 87.6 kg of anarse sweets worth Rs 17,520 from Prathmesh Products and Mahila Gruha Udyog in Sukhsagarnagar. The products were suspected to be substandard, with officials citing suspected misbranding or labelling violations.
In Nashik division, 2,100 kg of wheat flour worth Rs 71,500 was seized from M/s Sachin Industries in MIDC Awadhan, Dhule. The FDA cited labelling violations, unhygienic manufacturing conditions and suspected adulteration.
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, 56.5 kg of sweets worth Rs 18,950 was seized from Bikaner Mithaiwala in Bajaj Nagar, Waluj.
The stock included mawa, kalakand, kaju katli, balushahi, besan and rava laddus, besan barfi and khobra laddus. The FDA cited unhygienic packaging and the alleged use of sweet barfi in place of khoya. The seized stock was destroyed and the establishment's licence was suspended.
Other seizures in the division included 399.6 kg of soya chunks worth Rs 1.33 lakh from Varadvinayak Enterprises in MIDC Nanded; 1,392 kg of shev, namkeen, papadi and rawa maize flakes worth Rs 1.24 lakh from Pable Namkeen in MIDC Beed; and 1,153 kg of shev, lasun chivda, namkeen and special farsan worth Rs 2.64 lakh from Sahyadri Foods in Ambad, Jalna district.
The FDA also seized 498 kg of shev worth Rs 59,760 from Korde Foods in Murud, Latur district, over suspected artificial colouring. From Zum Zum Industries in Beed, officials seized food additives, beverage ingredients and other products, along with 7,104 bottles of carbonated beverages, worth Rs 1.08 lakh.
The products were suspected to be substandard or misbranded.
In Nagpur, the FDA seized 2,674 kg of Dhanlaxmi Kamal desiccated coconut powder worth Rs 2.67 lakh from Giridhari Trading Co in Maskasath, Itwari, over suspicions that the product was substandard.
In Amravati, officials seized 88 litres of suspected adulterated milk worth Rs 11,532 from Rajhans Dudh Agency. They also seized 148.4 kg of Sargam instant gulab jamun mix worth Rs 89,040 from KL Food Industry in Tiwsa, Amravati district, over suspected substandard quality.
The FDA has directed food businesses to sell products in properly labelled packaging, maintain hygienic manufacturing and storage conditions, and ensure they hold valid licences or registrations.
Operators must also maintain records of stock received and disposed of, in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the relevant rules.
The department warned that strict action would be taken against those found selling substandard, unsafe or adulterated food, adding that no laxity in enforcing food safety would be tolerated.
Consumers have been advised to purchase food from licensed or registered outlets and avoid loose or unlabelled products. They should check labels, batch numbers, packing dates and Best Before details before making purchases.
Citizens can report the sale of expired, substandard or suspicious food by calling the FDA's toll-free helpline at 1800-222-365 or using its grievance redressal system at https://complaints.mahafda.in.
