24 September,2026 07:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe (File pic)
Tukaram Mundhe-led Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amid the festive crackdown seized suspected adulterated or unsafe food stock worth around Rs 9.76 crore across the state.
Maharashtra food regulator carried out a special statewide festival food-safety drive between September 1 and 23, 2026. As per the official press note issued on Thursday, September 24, Maharashtra FDA action included 3,068 inspections, 2,423 food samples, and the seizure of 6,34,362 kg of suspected food stock.
Following the initiative, the FDA inspected a total of 3,068 food establishments. Out of the 3,068 establishments, improvement notices were issued to 1,506 of them where deficiencies were found.
Licences of 248 establishments committing serious violations were suspended, and 12 licences were cancelled. 455 cases were filed under Section 69 of the Act, of which 398 cases were disposed of and a penalty of Rs 53.60 lakh was recovered.
Out of all the inspections, the Mumbai division accounted for 325 inspections, 226 improvement notices, 53 licence suspensions, and one licence cancellation.
Moreover, a total of thirty cases were filed under Section 69, with 25 disposed of and Rs 6.60 lakh recovered in penalties.
FDA before the Ganeshotsav launched 'Festival Enforcement Portal' launched for effective implementation of the standing order for all festivals. The portal received a total of 3,198 applications across Maharashtra. Based on risk assessment, Food Safety Officers conducted on-site inspections at 383 locations, where organisers were guided on cooking areas, drinking water, raw material quality, food storage, and the hygiene of food handlers.
Of the 6.34 lakh kg of suspected food stock seized statewide, the Nashik division recorded the highest quantity at 4,42,746 kg, valued at approximately Rs 6.23 crore.
The Konkan division recorded seizures of 1,24,793.86 kg worth Rs 1.54 crore, while Pune reported 46,266.02 kg worth Rs 1.52 crore. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar recorded 15,180.80 kg, while Nagpur and Amravati reported 955.40 kg and 216 kg respectively.
Across the state, officials collected 2,423 samples of sweets, khoa, dairy products, edible oils and fasting foods for analysis. The FDA said further legal action would be taken against unsafe or substandard food based on the laboratory reports.
The drive was carried out through a dedicated Festival Enforcement Portal, launched by the FDA for the implementation of its standing order covering festivals throughout the year. The portal also allowed Ganesh mandals to submit online applications for community food distribution programmes such as Bhandara, Annachhatra and Mahaprasad.
