16 July,2026 07:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
In Mumbai and Palghar, the FDA suspended the licence of Parsi Dairy Farm after inspections revealed serious hygiene violations. PIC/FDA
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licence of iconic Parsi Dairy Farm in Mumbai after inspections revealed serious hygiene violations, including fungal growth, pest infestation, inadequate sanitation facilities, and dairy products without expiry date labels. The action was part of a statewide enforcement drive during which the FDA seized adulterated food, banned products and unsafe food items worth nearly Rs 1.9 crore.
The crackdown, conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday under the 'Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra' campaign, involved 24 raids across Maharashtra. Authorities confiscated adulterated milk and dairy products, banned gutkha and pan masala, spices and other food items, besides inspecting hotels, restaurants and food establishments for hygiene and food safety violations.
According to the FDA, more than 2,317 litres of milk, 30 litres of refined edible oil allegedly used for adulteration, and 6,849.25 kg of dairy products worth around Rs 45.78 lakh were seized during the operation.
The department also confiscated around 11,947.89 kg of other food items valued at Rs 53.10 lakh.
Action against banned products resulted in the registration of 11 First Information Reports (FIRs), the arrest of 16 people, and the seizure of banned gutkha, pan masala and related products worth Rs 1.37 crore.
One of the biggest operations was carried out in Akola, where the FDA raided a factory allegedly manufacturing banned food products. Officials seized stock worth Rs 1.23 crore and destroyed the manufacturing unit. Four accused were identified, while the main accused is absconding.
The FDA suspended the FSSAI licence of Parsi Dairy Farm Pvt Ltd, located at Princess Street, Marine Lines, after inspections found multiple violations of food safety and hygiene norms. The inspection revealed the absence of a protected raw milk reception dock, fungal growth on walls in storage and production areas, poor sanitation, storage of raw materials directly on the floor, pest infestation, inadequate rodent and insect control measures, the absence of an effluent treatment plant (ETP), incomplete medical records of food handlers, lack of protective footwear for workers, missing vehicle sanitation records, and the absence of mandatory 'Best Before/Use By/Date of Expiry' labels on several food products.
The FDA said the violations posed a serious risk of food contamination and threatened public health. It has suspended the dairy's FSSAI licence with immediate effect on Wednesday until further orders and barred the establishment from manufacturing, storing, selling or distributing food products during the suspension period.
In Goregaon and Govandi, officials detected milk tampering cases, leading to seizures, arrests and the destruction of more than 1,683 litres of loose pasteurised milk.
The drive also covered Malad, Vashi, Sangli, Mulund, Vasai and several other locations, where action was taken against food adulteration and violations of food safety norms.
Alongside the enforcement drive, the Maharashtra FDA launched an AI-based Citizen Grievance Portal to enable people to report food adulteration, unsafe food and spurious drugs.
The portal allows citizens to submit complaints through text or voice in Marathi, Hindi and English, making it easier to report violations.
The FDA has appealed to the public to promptly report instances of food adulteration and unsafe food practices for strict action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Officials said the initiative forms part of the state's ongoing 'Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra' mission to strengthen food safety enforcement.
