Maharashtra FDA seizes food products worth Rs 9 crore
The enforcement drive included the seizure of Patanjali cow ghee and targeted food adulteration ahead of Diwali.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confiscated food items valued at over Rs 9 crore during a statewide crackdown to prevent adulteration before Diwali, according to Telangana Today. Led by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the operation spanned seven administrative divisions and included 114 food establishments.
During the drive, authorities detained 2,279 litres of Patanjali cow ghee worth approximately Rs 20 lakh from a distributor in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The stock was held under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, due to suspected adulteration and misbranding.
The largest single confiscation occurred in the Konkan division, where officials took more than 1.44 lakh kg of various edible oil brands from a facility in Bhiwandi, Thane district. Other seized goods included rice, pulses, jaggery, and edible oils from Pune, Satara, Solapur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
In Mumbai, inspections identified several compliance issues such as insect infestations, poor sanitation, and improper food storage. A separate operation between October 28 and October 31 targeting banned products resulted in the seizure of goods worth Rs 79.4 lakh from 17 establishments.
The department also registered 13 FIRs, arrested 16 people, sealed seven businesses, and seized six vehicles. The FDA has advised the public to buy only from licensed vendors and to check packaging and expiry details during the festive season.