Maharashtra FDA seizes banned food products worth Rs 3.67 crore in statewide crackdown

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration FDA carried out an extensive statewide enforcement drive on June 11 and 12 conducting 50 raids and seizing banned and unsafe food products worth more than Rs 367 crore an official statement saidThe crackdown targeted the illegal sale storage transportation and distribution of prohibited products such as gutkha pan masala and other food items along with unsafe and unapproved food productsAs part of the operation FDA officials arrested 17 individuals sealed eight establishments and seized three vehicles allegedly involved in the illegal trade of banned food productsCases were registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and the Food Safety and Standards Act Authorities seized prohibited food products worth more than Rs 1871 lakh during these operationsThe action was carried out across Mumbai Konkan Pune Nashik Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Amravati and Nagpur divisionsMassive supari seizure in NagpurActing on specific intelligence inputs FDA teams in Nagpur seized nearly 85000 kilograms of unsafe and unapproved supari stock from multiple locationsOfficials recovered 55994 kg of supari worth Rs 8399 lakh from three vehicles and 28998 kg of supari worth Rs 111 crore from another locationThe total seizure amounted to 84992 kg of stock valued at Rs 195 croreFDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe chaired a meeting with milk and dairy product manufacturers and processors across the state on June 12During the meeting he warned that milk adulteration would not be tolerated and directed businesses to ensure the supply of safe and highquality dairy productsMundhe said strict action would be taken against any manufacturer distributor or seller found dealing in substandard or unsafe milk products He also announced a special statewide inspection drive against milk adulterationFood safety campaign expandedApart from gutkharelated action FDA teams conducted 35 inspections involving products such as supari edible oil khoa peda and gheeThe inspections resulted in the seizure of nearly 193 lakh kilograms of food stock worth approximately Rs 348 croreDivisionwise SeizuresDivisionEstablishments InspectedValue of Seized StockMumbai2Rs 71950Konkan6Rs 3153 lakhPune3Rs 6889 lakhNashik14Rs 2264 lakhChhatrapati Sambhajinagar3Rs 70104Nagpur5Rs 221 croreAmravati2Rs 272 lakhTotal35Rs 348 croreMCOCA warning for repeat offendersThe FDA stated that organised networks involved in the illegal production storage transport and sale of banned gutkha tobacco and nicotinebased food products could face action under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act MCOCAOfficials said repeat offenders and organised criminal groups would be dealt with strictly as part of the states intensified campaign against illegal food productsCitizens asked to report suspected adulterationThe FDA has urged citizens to report suspected food adulteration or unsafe food products through FoSCoS Portal Food Safety Connect AppTollfree helpline 1800222365Officials advised consumers to provide details such as the location of the establishment nature of the suspected adulteration and contact information while filing complaints