Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, May 30: In a major statewide crackdown on food adulteration and food safety violations, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has arrested 33 people, sealed 27 establishments and seized goods worth over ?20.67 lakh during a three-day special drive.
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the operation was carried out between May 25 and May 27 across six administrative divisions of the state.
According to the FDA, the campaign targeted the sale of banned products, adulterated food items, unsafe food manufacturing units and violations of food safety regulations. Inspection teams conducted raids on units involved in the sale and distribution of gutkha, pan masala and other prohibited products, besides checking food processing and packaging facilities.
“As many as 33 persons were arrested, 27 establishments were sealed, and goods worth more than ?20.57 lakh were seized. We will register chapter cases against repeat offenders and take stringent action against those who compromise public health,” Mundhe said.
The Mumbai metropolitan division recorded the highest action, with 19 people detained and 19 establishments sealed.
Apart from banned products, FDA officials collected samples of packaged drinking water, milk, fruit juices, carbonated beverages, edible oils, sweets, ice cream, toddy, spices, khoya, paneer, ghee, gram flour and bakery products for quality testing.
Food items worth nearly ?28.68 lakh were seized under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and samples were sent for laboratory analysis.
Among the major cases detected during the drive, officials in Jalgaon uncovered an alleged milk adulteration racket involving the mixing of edible oil with cow milk.
In Pune district’s Indapur, authorities seized mangoes worth around ?20,000 after detecting the alleged use of chemicals for artificial ripening.
In Mumbai, action was taken against a noodle manufacturing unit in Dharavi for alleged violations of food safety norms and labelling regulations, resulting in the seizure of a large quantity of stock.
In Nashik, proceedings were initiated against several establishments for alleged licence violations, misleading labelling practices and the sale of substandard edible oils.
The FDA also seized stock worth several lakhs from an ice cream manufacturing unit in Palghar that was allegedly operating in unhygienic conditions and violating food safety standards.
Mundhe warned that no individual or establishment found endangering public health would be spared and said violations of food safety laws could lead to both penal action and criminal prosecution.
He also appealed to citizens to report suspected food adulteration by providing details of the location, establishment and products involved. The FDA is currently developing a dedicated mobile application to make complaint registration easier for the public.