Mumbai, September 12 (Daily Kiran) : In a significant move ahead of the festive season, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a crackdown on substandard and adulterated food products. Over the course of 48 hours, the agency seized food items valued at ₹4.45 crore across various districts in the state, including Ahmednagar, Pune, Nashik, and Buldhana, under the supervision of FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.
On September 10, FDA officials raided the Arihant Cold Storage in the MIDC area, confiscating 75,356.8 kilograms of pasteurized cooking butter branded as “Madhurama Creamy Delight.” The estimated value of this butter is ₹3.95 crore. Authorities suspect violations related to product quality and labeling regulations, and further legal action will be taken based on laboratory test results.
The following day, acting on a tip-off, the FDA stopped two vehicles in Pune’s Wednesday Peth area and inspected the M/S KB Agarwal firm. During the inspection, they seized a shipment of paneer, khoya, and yogurt worth ₹43.27 lakh, which was being transported from Karnataka. Serious irregularities were discovered, including the transport of perishable dairy products without temperature monitoring equipment, unsanitary vehicle conditions, and missing essential product information such as batch numbers and expiry dates.
The FDA collected 69 samples in Pune and took action on 18,070.5 kilograms of food products. A total of 7,362.5 kilograms of paneer, khoya, and yogurt valued at ₹17.15 lakh was stored in cold storage, while another 6,081 kilograms of paneer worth ₹14.55 lakh was seized due to improper transport conditions.
At the KB Agarwal establishment, officials found 4,627 kilograms of unlabeled khoya valued at ₹11.56 lakh. Given the risk of spoilage, this stock was destroyed with the trader’s consent.
On September 11, FDA teams also inspected two private buses, Shri Vijay and Baldev, arriving from Gujarat in the Dwarka area, seizing 2,155 kilograms of ‘Special Sweet Barfi’ valued at ₹5.58 lakh. The sweets were being transported under unsanitary conditions, and the relevant business lacked the necessary licenses. Ten samples of the sweets were sent for laboratory testing, while the entire batch was destroyed.
On September 12, an inspection at the Marathwada Milk Producers’ Organization in Nandura taluka of Buldhana revealed that the unit was operating without registration. The FDA noted the absence of stainless steel containers, proper chilling arrangements, pest control measures, and health certificates for employees. During this operation, 172 liters of cow and buffalo milk, valued at ₹7,983, were seized and destroyed.
The FDA has warned that with the increase in demand for food products during the festive season, the risk of adulteration and quality-related issues also rises. As a result, inspection and sampling efforts will be intensified statewide, and the department has urged businesses to strictly adhere to food safety regulations.
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