Maharashtra FDA seizes 1,190 kg of laddus in Pune raid
Authorities found excessive food colouring and poor hygiene at a manufacturing unit during a festive season food safety operation.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized approximately 1,190 kg of laddus and related goods from a manufacturing unit in Kondhwa, Pune. According to ANI and The News Mill, the seizure, valued at around Rs 1,73,950, occurred after officials detected unhygienic conditions and excessive food colouring in the products.
FDA official Balaji Shinde stated that the raid on the Laddu Bhandar unit was prompted by a tip-off. He noted that samples of both laddus and boondi were collected, and further action is currently underway.
The operation followed a warning issued by Maharashtra’s Commissioner of Food Safety, Tukaram Munde, during a Poona Merchants Chamber event. Munde had emphasised that food colouring used in Diwali snacks must stay within prescribed standards.
In a separate development, the Maharashtra FDA suspended four officials on Saturday following allegations of conducting unauthorised raids in Pune and Bhiwandi. The suspended staff include Joint Commissioner (Food) Digambar Bhogawade, Assistant Commissioner (Food) Yaduraj Dahatonde, and Food Safety Officers Ashok Ilager and C R Swamy.
The suspensions were approved by the Chief Minister and formalised through a government resolution. Additionally, a departmental inquiry has been started against 21 other officials, which the department described as one of its most significant disciplinary actions to date.