FDA seizes adulterated and banned food products worth over Rs 37 lakh across western Maharashtra

The Food and Drug Administration FDA Pune Division has seized adulterated and suspected food products worth Rs 3173 lakh during a largescale enforcement drive conducted across several districts of Maharashtra officials saidIn a parallel operation against banned food products officials seized prohibited items worth Rs 545 lakh registered criminal cases against 14 individuals and made arrests under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNSThe action was carried out on June 1 and 2 under the statewide campaign ldquoSafe Food Safe Medicines Safe Maharashtrardquo launched by Maharashtra Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram MundheFDA teams carried out inspections and raids across Pune Satara Sangli Solapur and Kolhapur districts under the supervision of Assistant Commissioners Food and senior officialsAccording to Pune Division Joint Commissioner Food D V Bhogawade the department has intensified action against food adulteration and illegal food businesses to safeguard public healthMajor seizures in SataraOne of the largest seizures took place in Satara district where FDA officials raided Ms Dhanvantari Distributors Pvt Ltd at GodoliDuring the inspection authorities seized stocks of ProtirichW Herbal Health Drink Chocolate Compound and Sea Buckthorn Juice worth Rs 2140 lakh over suspected food safety violationsIn Pune district officials raided Ms Praj Traders at Market Yard and seized refined soybean oil and RBD palmolein oil valued at Rs 534 lakhAt Maharashtra Milk Dairy in Keshavnagar Chinchwad FDA officers seized Cheese Analogue products worth Rs 27600Further inspections at Vithumauli Dairy in Vadgaon Sheri led to the seizure of suspected adulterated cow ghee and paneer worth around Rs 15000Another raid at Shivdatt Dairy in Kharadi resulted in the seizure of paneer worth more than Rs 173 lakhAction taken in KolhapurIn Kolhapur district officials seized refined cottonseed oil and filtered groundnut oil worth Rs 92000 from Ms Banchhode Brothers Oil MillA separate raid at Ms Ramgopal Bhawarlal Soni in Ichalkaranji led to the seizure of refined soybean oil worth Rs 97600 on suspicion of adulterationMeanwhile FDA officials seized analogue supari worth Rs 8880 from Ms Hidansh Industries in Dharangutti Shirrol taluka after detecting alleged misbranding and labelling violationsAlongside the food adulteration drive FDA teams targeted businesses allegedly dealing in prohibited food productsInspections at 14 establishments resulted in the seizure of banned items worth Rs 545 lakh and the registration of criminal cases against those involvedIn Punes Baner area raids at Shambho Pan Shop and Jai Malhar Pan Shop resulted in the seizure of prohibited food products worth over Rs 7500In Hinjewadi PhaseI officials inspected five establishments and seized banned products worth around Rs 25000Vehicle and Gutkhamaking machine seizedIn Indapur taluka FDA officials seized prohibited food products worth Rs 107 lakh and confiscated a transport vehicle valued at Rs 150 lakh that was allegedly being used to transport the banned goodsIn Solapur district a raid at Baba Pan Shop in Akluj led to the seizure of prohibited products worth Rs 116 lakh along with a gutkhamanufacturing machineAnother operation at Trimurti Pan Shop in Barshi taluka resulted in the seizure of banned products worth more than Rs 13000In Satara city officials seized prohibited food products worth Rs 30600 during a raid at Buwa Pan Shop in Sadar BazarIn Sangli district inspections at AK Pan Shop and Balaji Pan Shop led to the seizure of banned products worth approximately Rs 28000FDA vows continued actionJoint Commissioner D V Bhogawade said the FDA will continue strict action against manufacturers distributors transporters and sellers involved in adulterated and banned food productsHe urged citizens to report information related to food adulteration or illegal food sales through the FDAs tollfree helpline 1800222365Officials said protecting consumer health remains a top priority and warned that strict legal action will continue against those violating food safety laws