Key Update

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended 19 food business licences over suspected adulteration and misbranding. It also seized 2,279.7 litres of cow ghee worth ₹20.20 lakh from M/s Divya Mahavitarak, a Patanjali super distributor in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Officials seized 4,032 units of the product under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Refined News Report

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a special inspection drive across the state between October 28 and 31, seizing approximately 3.53 lakh kg of food products valued at ₹9.01 crore from 114 establishments across seven divisions. The drive also resulted in the suspension of 19 food business licences and registrations, 13 FIRs and 16 arrests.

Among the major actions, officials seized 2,279.7 litres of cow ghee worth ₹20.20 lakh from M/s Divya Mahavitarak, a Patanjali Ayurved super distributor in the Sundarwadi area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The seizure involved 4,032 units of ghee over suspected adulteration and misbranding, with concerns regarding compliance with food safety and labelling requirements.

Major Seizures Across Maharashtra

The FDA seized 1,44,218 kg of edible oil from Avenue Supermarts Ltd in Bhiwandi and 20,560 kg of food products, including rice, pulses and jaggery, from Amin Traders in Satara. Additional edible oil stocks were confiscated from Swati Oil Mills in Satara and S G Traders in Solapur. The department also seized prohibited food products worth ₹79.40 lakh from 17 establishments.

Hygiene Violations and Enforcement Action

Inspections revealed several food safety shortcomings, including unhygienic operating conditions, improper storage, inadequate pest control, and missing cleaning records and mandatory documentation. The FDA sealed seven establishments and seized six vehicles as part of the enforcement drive.

In a separate inspection exercise, FDA teams examined 34 hotels, restaurants and roadside eateries across Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur divisions, issuing 29 improvement notices over hygiene and food safety deficiencies. Laboratory examination of the seized Patanjali ghee will help determine further action in the case.

Source: The Hindu