Maharashtra FDA suspends licences of 18 sweet sellers over unhygienic conditions
The Food and Drug Administration seized food items and kokum worth Rs 37.49 lakh during inspections across the state.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the licences of 18 sweet manufacturers, sellers, and home-based food units on Wednesday. According to Urban Acres, the action followed inspections that revealed unhygienic manufacturing conditions at various establishments, including five in Mumbai.
In Mumbai, the suspended businesses include Sheetals in Dadar West, ITC Limited in Andheri East, Dhanya Enterprises in Mulund, and Zepto Limited in Kandivali East. Additionally, the FDA suspended the licence of Bhagwati Stores in Borivali after inspectors found rotten food, a defective freezer, improper storage, and insects such as flies and cockroaches.
The state-wide operation resulted in the seizure of 14,340.78 kg of food products and 204 litres of kokum, with a total value of Rs 37.49 lakh. The FDA reported 18 cases of action, comprising five in Mumbai, six in Pune, five in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and two in Amravati.
In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, officials seized 214 kg of boondi and sweet halwa worth Rs 1.45 lakh in Dahisar East on suspicion of adulteration. At Bharatkumar Shantilal & Co. in Turbhe, 1,277 kg of jaggery products valued at Rs 78,420 were seized, while 165 kg of suspected adulterated Madras mix and tikha shev from Shree Shiv Foods in Mahape were also taken.
Other seizures included 2,896 kg of chilli and turmeric powder worth Rs 5 lakh from Dhanashree Spices in Koparkhairane. In Panvel, officials seized 386 kg of chakli and palmolein oil valued at Rs 70,780 from Mahadev Farsan.
The department did not specify how long the licences remain suspended or the requirements for their restoration. Future steps for the affected businesses will depend on the FDA's inspection and licensing processes.