20 August,2026 06:18 PM IST | Mumbai | Anushree Gaikwad
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. File Pic
The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), led by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, on Thursday introduced a comprehensive statewide compliance order covering the entire edible oil supply chain.
The crackdown follows extensive market inspections that found adulteration, improper labelling, unsafe packaging, repackaging of near-expiry oil, and other food safety violations.
Here are the key points of the Maharashtra FDA's edible oil crackdown:
One of the biggest changes is the prohibition on the sale of loose or unpackaged edible oil.
All edible oil must now be sold in sealed, tamper-evident, and properly labelled containers. The move is aimed at improving traceability and reducing the risk of contamination and adulteration.
The order does not stop at retailers. It applies across the edible oil supply chain, including:
This means manufacturers and suppliers can also be held accountable when unsafe or non-compliant oil enters the market.
Manufacturers are required to maintain functional in-house testing laboratories as a condition for obtaining or retaining an operational licence.
The requirement is intended to ensure that edible oil is tested for quality and safety before it reaches consumers.
Multi-sourced edible vegetable oils will have to meet additional requirements, including AGMARK certification and clear disclosure of their constituent oils.
The FDA has also specified restrictions concerning mustard oil in such blends, including a prohibition on mustard oil in products manufactured after June 2021 under the conditions outlined in the order.
The crackdown also targets unsafe packaging.
The reuse of single-use tin cans and rusted or spot-welded metal containers has been prohibited. Edible oil must be packed in certified food-grade containers to minimise the possibility of chemical contamination.
The order sets a strict limit for Total Polar Compounds (TPC) in repeatedly used frying oil.
Oil with TPC exceeding 25 per cent cannot be used for food preparation. Such oil must instead be handed over to authorised collectors for conversion into biodiesel, preventing it from re-entering the food chain.
The FDA's inspections reportedly uncovered several forms of non-compliance, including:
The new compliance order seeks to address these practices across the supply chain rather than focusing only on the final retailer.
According to the FDA's concerns, loose oil creates problems with traceability, contamination and adulteration. It can also make it difficult to establish the product's original manufacturer, batch details, and shelf life.
The order specifically highlights the risk of adulteration with toxic substances such as argemone oil, which has historically been associated with epidemic dropsy and serious health consequences.
Repeatedly heating cooking oil can increase TPC levels and lead to the formation of potentially harmful compounds.
The FDA has therefore made the 25 per cent TPC threshold a key part of its crackdown, particularly relevant to businesses that repeatedly use the same frying oil.
The crackdown comes with significant financial and legal consequences.
Depending on the nature of the violation, penalties can include fines of up to Rs 10 lakh and imprisonment. Other offences, including dealing in substandard food, misbranding, operating without a valid licence and misleading advertisements, can attract separate penalties under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The order also provides for personal accountability of company officers, partners and managers where applicable.
The FDA's order extends beyond physical shops and supermarkets to online sellers and delivery platforms.
This is significant as consumers increasingly purchase packaged edible oils through e-commerce and online grocery platforms.
Consumers can also play a role in identifying unsafe edible oil. The FDA advises buyers to:
Maharashtra's latest edible oil crackdown shifts the focus from simply penalising retailers to holding the entire supply chain accountable.
From manufacturers and refiners to supermarkets and online sellers, businesses handling edible oil will face stricter compliance requirements.
For consumers, the message is straightforward: buy sealed, properly labelled oil, check its batch and expiry details, and avoid products sold in unsafe packaging or without clear traceability.
