Maharashtra FDA suspends Blinkit's Malad store licence; conducts raids in Mumbai and parts of Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration FDA has intensified its crackdown on food safety violations across the state suspending the licence of a Blink Commerce facility in Malad West area of MumbaiThe FDA on Monday said that it continued its action in Mumbai and parts of Maharashtra seizing more than 119 lakh kg of edible oil in Beed aloneEight FIRs were registered over the sale of prohibited products officials saidThe enforcement action carried out between August 6 and 9 targeted establishments involved in the manufacture storage distribution and sale of food productsDairy items edible oil packaged drinking water bakery products jaggery paneer gutkha pan masala and cheese analogue were among the products coveredDuring a special drive targeting milk and dairy products the FDA seized six products weighing 14378 kglitre and valued at Rs 9326 lakh Separately 10 establishments were inspected in a crackdown on prohibited food products leading to eight FIRs 11 arrests and seizures worth Rs 6320650Blink Commerce licence suspendedThe FDA suspended the food licence of Blink Commerce Private Limited after an inspection of its Malad West facility on August 7 revealed alleged serious hygiene and storage lapsesOfficials reported widespread cockroach infestation food stored directly on the floor rusted racks poorly maintained coldstorage areas expired or tampered packaging and noncompliance with FIFOFEFO practicesThe inspection also revealed inadequate pest and rodent control poor waste management lack of medical checkups and health records for food handlers and inadequate personal hygiene and protective equipmentLarge numbers of cockroaches were allegedly found on vegetable and fruit stocks raising concerns over possible contamination Expired damaged and tampered packages were also found in cold roomsThe FDA suspended the licence under Section 323 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and barred the establishment from carrying out foodrelated business until further ordersOver 119 lakh kg edible oil seized in BeedThe FDA seized 1191875 kg of edible oil worth Rs 154 crore after inspecting five manufacturing and repacking units in Beed on August 6 and 7 Twentyseven samples were sent for laboratory testingAt Swagat Oil Industries in MIDC Beed officials allegedly found reused tins and oil from the same tank being packed and sold under the labels ldquoRefinedrdquo and ldquoUltra RefinedrdquoThe FDA seized 666526 kg of edible oil worth Rs 105 crore including refined soybean and palm oils and products sold under the Swagat Gold Goodluck and Swastik brands Ten samples were sent for testing while the units FSSAI licence was suspended and the premises shutAt Charkha Oil Mill officials found reused tins labelling irregularities and unhygienic conditions The FDA seized 459957 kg of edible oil worth Rs 7822 lakh and sent 11 samples for testing The unit was subsequently shutAt Jai Hanuman Traders in Wadwani 45452 kg of edible oil worth Rs 724 lakh was seized while three samples were sent for testing The establishment was shut after its licence was suspendedThe FDA also seized 1746 kg of loose refined soybean oil worth Rs 279 lakh from Janhavi Commercials in Majalgaon and 248 kg worth Rs 39680 from Vinayak Oil Industries Both units were shut after their licences were suspendedThe department has advised consumers to check the FSSAI number manufacturing date batch number expiry date and mandatory labelling before purchasing edible oilCashew stock seized after complaint in BuldhanaThe FDA inspected Reliance Retail Limiteds ARD Cinemall in Buldhana on August 8 after receiving a complaint alleging fungal growth and live insects in Laxmi Narayan brand cashew piecesThe batch mentioned in the complaint was not available at the outlet However officials found another batch in stock and collected a sample for laboratory testingThe FDA seized 54 boxes weighing 11340 kg and valued at Rs 10238 Further action will depend on the laboratory report87320 litres of packaged water seized in JalgaonThe FDA seized 87320 litres of Oxycabranded packaged drinking water worth Rs 873 lakh from Anita Industries in MIDC Jalgaon following an inspection on August 6Nagpur rusk unit faces action over labellingIn Nagpur the FDA took action against Ajit Delight Pvt Ltd in Butibori after finding labelling violations on rusk containing artificial sweetener INS 951Officials seized 9827 kg of rusk worth Rs 1413 lakhAccording to the FDA the labels did not carry mandatory declarations relating to artificial or nonnutritive sweeteners including the required warning that the product is not recommended for children and where applicable the declaration for phenylketonuricsJaggery unit raided in KolhapurAt Varad Jaggery in Bhuyewadi Kolhapur officials found unhygienic manufacturing conditions and suspected adulteration during jaggery productionThe FDA seized 450 kg of jaggery worth Rs 20250 and 500 kg of white crystal sugar worth Rs 22500 taking the total seizure to 950 kg valued at Rs 4275013866 kg cheese analogue destroyed in NagpurUnder its lsquoSafe Food Safe Maharashtrarsquo campaign the FDA acted against Chandra Dairy in Pili Nadi Wanjara and Shivam Dairy Food Products at Itha Bhatti Chowk in NagpurThe department said 13866 kg of curd and cheese analogue worth Rs 1216 lakh was destroyed under a Maharashtra food safety notification dated July 30 2026 which prohibits the manufacture storage distribution and sale of cheese analogue in the stateThe FDA said action against the manufacture and sale of prohibited cheese analogue would continuePaneer seized in Ulhasnagar VasaiThe FDA also inspected establishments in the Palghar Thane and Navi Mumbai areas over suspected substandard and noncompliant food productsOfficials seized 99 kg of lowfat paneer worth Rs 34650 from Gaikwad Distributors in Ulhasnagar citing unhygienic conditions and improper storage temperaturesAnother Ulhasnagar establishment operated by Gurunath Tukaram Sadgir was found with 64 kg of lowfat paneer worth Rs 18560 while 173 kg of paneer worth Rs 48960 was seized from Shreeyash Dairy Products in Vasai EastSuspected unsafe milk seized in NandgaonThe FDA seized 196 kglitres of cow milk worth Rs 7840 from an establishment operated by Chandrakant Garud in Nandgaon on August 7Officials found the milk stored in unhygienic conditions and suspected it to be unsafe Further legal action is expectedGutkha pan masala crackdown leads to 11 arrestsThe FDA also stepped up action against prohibited products including gutkha pan masala scented tobacco and scented supariAcross Maharashtra officials inspected 10 establishments finding prohibited products at all of them Stock worth Rs 6320650 was seized eight FIRs were registered and 11 people were arrested Seven establishments were sealedPune accounted for six inspections four FIRs and six arrests In Konkan one FIR was registered and two people were arrested while Nashik saw one FIR without any arrests Nagpur recorded two FIRs and three arrests90 hotels restaurants inspectedThe FDAs divisional data showed that 90 hotels restaurants and dhabas were inspected between August 7 and 9Eight establishments were issued improvement notices and one licence was suspended No licence was cancelledPune recorded the highest number of inspections at 78 followed by Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with nine Greater Mumbai Konkan and Nagpur recorded one inspection eachFDA urges citizens to report violationsThe FDA has urged citizens to report food safety violations through the FoSCoS Portal Food Safety Connect app tollfree number 1800222365 or the Food amp Drug Grievance PortalCitizens have been asked to provide their contact details the exact address of the establishment and details of the suspected adulterated or unsafe food item while filing complaintsFDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the state administration had adopted a strict approach towards food safety and would not compromise public healthHe said citizens have the right to safe and pure food and warned that strict action would continue against those found adulterating food or manufacturing storing selling or distributing prohibited products