Quality checks for food should be a year-round activity

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Between August 11 and October 12, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials conducted 4676 inspections across the state, targeting food products that see a spike in demand during festivals. These products are milk, edible oils, ghee, khoya, mawa, sweets, dry fruits, chocolates, and other festive foods that are used in large quantities.

The Maharashtra FDA has launched a massive statewide food safety drive to ensure that citizens bite only into purity, not adulteration, said our report. It was seen that 918 samples met the standard, while 51 were substandard, 16 unsafe, and eight misbranded for misleading labels. In all, the FDA seized over 8,03,942 kg of suspicious food stock, initiating further legal action against violators.

Perhaps the most heartening part of this news is that the drive will continue till October 25. It is part of a special FDA campaign focused on protecting consumers during major Indian festivals.

The campaign is multi-pronged, with the FDA intensifying raids, organising awareness workshops and guidance meetings for sweets, mawa, and farsan manufacturers. The sessions highlight hygiene standards, responsible use of ingredients, and compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines. This may prove to be very effective as it is not just about nabbing violators but creating awareness. One hopes that this action is a year-round one, the campaign continues evolving as the times change, its contours defined by current food trends and the gastronomy landscape.

If this campaign is restricted merely to the festive season, it will be inadequate. Violators may be wary during festival time. Food authorities need to keep manufacturers on their toes. We need to weed it out adulteration completely.