30 October,2026 08:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash Singh
Food and Drug Administration officials raided 472 spice manufacturers, distributors, and traders in the past six days. Pic/By Special Arrangement
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided 472 spice manufacturers, distributors, and traders across the state, seizing "unsafe" spices worth Rs 13.60 crore between October 23 and October 29, to stop adulterated, substandard, and unsafe spices from flooding kitchen shelves ahead of Diwali.
During the drive, food safety officers collected 783 samples and suspended 72 licences over unhygienic conditions and statutory non-compliance under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The seized haul in these six days - amounting to 9610 quintals - accounted for nearly 69 per cent of the total value of spice stocks seized across the state since April 1. Under the recent drive, the highest seizure value was recorded in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division (Rs 6.42 crore)
Since April 1, 2026, the state watchdog has inspected 1057 establishments and seized 11,963 quintals of spices valued at Rs 19.70 crore, issuing 557 improvement notices and suspending 84 licences. Out of laboratory reports received so far, six samples were confirmed unsafe, nine substandard, and 18 misbranded.
File Pic/Atul Kamble
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe issued a strict warning, saying, "Establishments dealing in spices must maintain clear records of raw material sourcing, keep complete transaction logs, and sell only properly labelled packages strictly complying with food safety norms. We are taking stringent action against operators who manufacture or store adulterated or unsafe spices."
