Mumbai FDA tightens edible oil rules, orders checks from source to storage

Of the 1247 edible-oil samples collected across state, 77 were found to be of substandard quality. REPRESENTATION PIC/ISTOCK

The next time a customer buys a litre of cooking oil, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) wants to know not just what is inside the bottle but where that oil came from, what container carried it, how it was stored and, after being used in a commercial kitchen, where it eventually went.

In a sweeping 14-clause order, the FDA on Thursday issued a compliance order for the edible oil sector, citing violations, including adulteration, unsafe packaging and improper storage, and transportation.

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the compliance order covers all food business operators dealing with edible oil, including oil expellers, solvent extraction units, blenders, packaging units, importers, supermarkets, e-commerce platforms, and retail shops.

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Stating that edible oil will be the next major focus of the state's "Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra" campaign, Mundhe urged consumers not to buy loose or unsealed edible oil, terming it unsafe.

Cheaper oil mixture

The move comes after FDA inspections found unlicensed businesses, cheaper ‘undeclared' oils being mixed with ‘declared' oil, unauthorised mustard-oil blending, misleading relabelling, repackaging of near-expiry oil, and use of non-food-grade packaging.

Numbers underline issue

Of the 1247 edible-oil samples collected across Maharashtra during 2025-26, 1142 conformed to standards, but 77 were substandard, 13 unsafe, and 15 misbranded. The FDA's latest action follows its August 6-7 crackdown in Beed, where nearly 1.2 lakh litres of edible oil valued at Rs 1.94 crore was seized and licences of five establishments suspended over alleged repacking and loose-oil violations.

Rs 10 lakh penalty

Violators can face prosecution, with penalties ranging up to Rs 10 lakh for unsafe food, possession of adulterants or operating without a valid licence, besides licence suspension or cancellation. Corporate officers can also face personal liability.

How to check purity of oil

>> Sealed/packaged oil
>> Discard reused or rusted cans
>> Check the batch and packaging dates
>> Verify labels

'Complaints can be filed through the Maharashtra FDA portal, Food Safety Connect app or toll-free helplines.

Ban on loose oil

Oil must be sold in sealed, tamper-evident, and fully labelled packs, while retailers have been told to reject tampered consignments and report suppliers. Multi-sourced edible vegetable oil must carry AGMARK certification, constituent oil percentages and a "Not to be sold loose" declaration; such oil manufactured after June 8, 2021, cannot contain mustard oil.

‘Must not reuse'

The FDA also established regulations regarding fate of the oil after frying. Repeated heating can generate total polar compounds, trans-fatty acids and aldehydes. Oil crossing 25 per cent TPC cannot be used and must be handed to authorised RUCO collectors. The FDA's order also prohibits reuse of single-use tin containers and requires food-grade direct-contact packaging with conformity certification.