Navi Mumbai raid busts interstate syndicate tampering with food expiry dates

Boxes of Lahori soda and Maggi seized; (right) Kurkure packets had no expiry date printed. Pics/By Special Arrangement

In operation with the Central Crime Branch, Navi Mumbai, busted an interstate syndicate engaged in tampering with manufacturing and expiry dates of packaged food items.

The week-long operation, conducted between August 24 and August 29, targeted the premises of M/s Sadhana Enterprises located at Plot No. C-449, TTC Industrial Area, Turbhe, Navi Mumbai.

The operation was initiated following directives from Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe and Joint Commissioner (Food), Thane, Sachin Jadhav. During the raid, officials seized 4942 cartons of branded food products valued at Rs 75,21,269 linked to 10 prominent export houses, alongside additional unlabelled and expired stock worth Rs 30,600, taking the total seized value to over Rs 75.51 lakh.

Reprinted expiration dates

Investigations revealed that the establishment's partners, Jayprakash Sanchatiram Singh and Jaya Navrang Bahadur Singh, procured large volumes of packaged food from several export-oriented companies. The operators systematically wiped off the original "date of manufacture" and "expiry/use by date" from the packaging, reprinted fraudulent fresh dates, and pasted new stickers over the original ingredient and nutritional information panels to resell the expired goods into the consumer supply chain.

Branded products seized

. Potato chips: Lay's Classic Salted, Magic Masala, Spanish Tangy Tomato, Sizzling Hot, Lemon Chilli, Aloo, and Hot & Sweet.
. Extruded & corn snacks: Kurkure (Masala Munch, Red Chilli Chataka, Naughty Tomato, Solid Masti, Green Chutney, Schezwan Chutney, and Puffcorn Yummy Cheese); Bingo Mad Angles Achaari; Fun Flips (Tango, Khatta Meetha, and Mocktail); and Fun Masala.
. Instant Noodles: Maggi Masala Noodles and Maggi Atta Noodles.
. Ready-to-eat/ready-to-cook: Rasoi Amritsari Paneer Tikka Masala, Rasoi Dum Aloo, Rasoi Paneer Bhurji, Rasoi Dal Makhni, and Knorr Mushroom Soup.
. Sauces, condiments & canned drinks: Hellmann's Mayonnaise, Thums Up cans, and Limca cans.

Establishments under scanner

The seized consignment was traced to 10 prominent exporter firms:

. M/s. Arnika Export (Noida)
. M/s. Novas Export (Mulund, Mumbai)
. M/s. Joshi Brothers (Ghatkopar, Mumbai)
. M/s. Beyond Export (Malad, Mumbai)
. M/s. Jamnada Ruttonsy & Co. (Fort, Mumbai)
. M/s. Span Impex (Mumbai)
. M/s. Kasturi (Andheri, Mumbai)
. M/s. Angad Export (Chembur, Mumbai)
. M/s. Bharat International (Delhi)
. M/s. Anika Export (New Delhi)

Additionally, three other entities operating without mandatory FSSAI licenses and purchase bills - M/s. Unique Fragrances, M/s. Pristine Worldwide, and M/s. Vipul Doshi - had product samples drawn for lab testing.

The enforcement teams

The FDA raid team was led by Assistant Commissioner (Food) Ajit Maitre and Food Safety Officers Prashant Pawar, Vikram Nikam, Sonali Pawar, Abhinandan Randive, Jyotsna Jadhav, Varsha Ade, Sumit Dafade, Utkarsh More, and Sandeep Doltade. The Crime Branch operation was supervised by
DCP Sachin Gunjal and ACP Bhausaheb Dhole, with on-ground execution by API Shrinivas Tungenwar and Mahesh Jadhav.

You can report here

Citizens can report suspected malpractices on the toll-free number 1800222365 or via the grievance portal at complaints.mahafda.in.