Maharashtra FDA crackdown: Expired food, suspected adulterated products worth Rs 25.54 lakh seized

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration FDA seized food articles worth Rs 2554 lakh from 14 establishments across the state during a twoday inspection drive on October 25 and 26The seized stock included expired packaged food unlabelled products and food suspected to be substandard or adulteratedThe Maharashtra FDA crackdown covered all divisions with officials flagging violations such as unhygienic manufacturing and packaging improper labelling and the absence of valid licences or registrationsOver 9300 kg of food seizedThe FDA seized approximately 9385 kg of food articles 7566 packets of expired packaged food 7104 bottles of carbonated beverages and 88 litres of milk The seized products included sweets mawa namkeen shev chivda chips dry fruits roasted almonds soya chunks wheat flour desiccated coconut powder instant gulab jamun mix and food additivesThe department said the seizures were carried out over suspected food safety violations including the sale of improperly labelled products unhygienic manufacturing practices and suspected adulterationChhatrapati Sambhajinagar records highest seizuresChhatrapati Sambhajinagar division accounted for the highest number of establishments raided during the Maharashtra FDA crackdown with six units inspected and food articles worth Rs 709 lakh seized The haul included 36221 kg of food products and 7104 bottles of carbonated beveragesIn Greater Mumbai the FDA seized 7528 kg of chips dry fruits and roasted almonds worth Rs 699 lakh from two establishments In the Konkan division officials seized 7566 packets of expired packaged food worth Rs 688 lakh from one establishmentNagpur division reported the seizure of 2674 kg of desiccated coconut powder worth Rs 267 lakh from one establishmentIn Amravati two establishments were found with food articles and milk worth Rs 1 lakh while 2100 kg of wheat flour worth Rs 71500 was seized from one establishment in Nashik In Pune officials seized 876 kg of anarse sweets worth Rs 17520Mumbai units under FDA scannerIn Greater Mumbai Ms Ananta Food Products in Bhandup West was found selling packaged food without proper labels The FDA seized 628 kg of multigrain beetroot and spinachbroccoli chips worth Rs 20730At Ms Curated Foods on Aarey Road in Goregaon East officials seized 690 kg of mixed dry fruits and roasted almonds valued at Rs 678 lakhIn the Konkan division Cloudstore Retail Pvt Ltd in PadghaBhiwandi Thane district was found with 7566 packets of expired packaged food worth Rs 688 lakhThe company allegedly failed to produce records showing the disposal of expired stockSweets flour and other products seizedIn Pune the FDA seized 876 kg of anarse sweets worth Rs 17520 from Prathmesh Products and Mahila Gruha Udyog in Sukhsagarnagar The products were suspected to be substandard with officials citing suspected misbranding or labelling violationsIn Nashik division 2100 kg of wheat flour worth Rs 71500 was seized from Ms Sachin Industries in MIDC Awadhan Dhule The FDA cited labelling violations unhygienic manufacturing conditions and suspected adulterationIn Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division 565 kg of sweets worth Rs 18950 was seized from Bikaner Mithaiwala in Bajaj Nagar WalujThe stock included mawa kalakand kaju katli balushahi besan and rava laddus besan barfi and khobra laddus The FDA cited unhygienic packaging and the alleged use of sweet barfi in place of khoya The seized stock was destroyed and the establishments licence was suspendedOther seizures in the division included 3996 kg of soya chunks worth Rs 133 lakh from Varadvinayak Enterprises in MIDC Nanded 1392 kg of shev namkeen papadi and rawa maize flakes worth Rs 124 lakh from Pable Namkeen in MIDC Beed and 1153 kg of shev lasun chivda namkeen and special farsan worth Rs 264 lakh from Sahyadri Foods in Ambad Jalna districtThe FDA also seized 498 kg of shev worth Rs 59760 from Korde Foods in Murud Latur district over suspected artificial colouring From Zum Zum Industries in Beed officials seized food additives beverage ingredients and other products along with 7104 bottles of carbonated beverages worth Rs 108 lakhThe products were suspected to be substandard or misbrandedCoconut powder milk and instant mix among other seizuresIn Nagpur the FDA seized 2674 kg of Dhanlaxmi Kamal desiccated coconut powder worth Rs 267 lakh from Giridhari Trading Co in Maskasath Itwari over suspicions that the product was substandardIn Amravati officials seized 88 litres of suspected adulterated milk worth Rs 11532 from Rajhans Dudh Agency They also seized 1484 kg of Sargam instant gulab jamun mix worth Rs 89040 from KL Food Industry in Tiwsa Amravati district over suspected substandard qualityFDA warns food businesses urges consumers to check labelsThe FDA has directed food businesses to sell products in properly labelled packaging maintain hygienic manufacturing and storage conditions and ensure they hold valid licences or registrationsOperators must also maintain records of stock received and disposed of in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and the relevant rulesThe department warned that strict action would be taken against those found selling substandard unsafe or adulterated food adding that no laxity in enforcing food safety would be toleratedConsumers have been advised to purchase food from licensed or registered outlets and avoid loose or unlabelled products They should check labels batch numbers packing dates and Best Before details before making purchasesCitizens can report the sale of expired substandard or suspicious food by calling the FDAs tollfree helpline at 1800222365 or using its grievance redressal system at httpscomplaintsmahafdain