FDA seizes 43.56 tonnes of food worth Rs 1.56 crore in October drive across Maharashtra

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra ran an inspection drive across the state in October. About 43.56 tonnes of food items were seized, and 719.2 litres of milk and ghee were either taken into custody or destroyed. The seized goods are valued at about Rs 1.56 crore, according to a press note issued on October 24.

Inspections were carried out in the Mumbai, Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur divisions. Officials said they found suspected adulteration, substandard food, wrong labelling and disregard of food safety rules at many places. Action was also taken against the sale and storage of banned food items. In separate action, banned goods worth Rs 19.56 lakh were seized in Pune and worth Rs 4.22 lakh in Greater Mumbai.

In Mumbai, inspections were held on October 23 and 24 in Govandi, Mankhurd, Antop Hill, Chembur and Dharavi. A total of 564 litres of milk was destroyed, and action was begun against several dairies and milk sellers for alleged violation of food safety standards. From Sainath Dairy and Farsan Mart and Maharana Dairy in Govandi and Mankhurd, 85 litres of suspected loose milk was seized and destroyed, and samples were taken for testing. Proceedings to suspend the registrations of both were begun for breach of hygiene and handling conditions.

Hygiene standards were found broken at Agasti Milk Agency in Mankhurd, and action is under way to suspend its licence. Legal action was begun against Yadav Dairy in Govandi East on the charge of operating without a licence. At Sagar Milk Centre in Antop Hill, 250 litres of pasteurised, homogenised toned milk, worth Rs 11,625, was destroyed on October 24. The department said the milk was being sold in plastic bags and cans, which is against the rules. From Shakti Dairy in Dharavi, 31 litres of loose cow's milk was seized and destroyed, and from Rahul Milk Centre in Mahim West, 198 litres of raw loose cow's milk.

In the Konkan division, the FDA seized about 9.99 tonnes of food worth Rs 53.55 lakh. This included spices, grains, dry fruits, seeds, tamarind, chia seeds, other food items and raw buffalo milk. Turmeric and chilli powder from Nagarik Masala in Badlapur West were seized over quality, possible use of unapproved colour and labelling lapses. In a raid on a business near the market yard in Panvel, 598 kg of coriander seeds worth Rs 1.19 lakh were seized. Action was taken against goods such as raisins, almonds, salted pistachios, chia seeds and tamarind of Unisha Enterprises in Mahape, Navi Mumbai. Also seized were 1,487.6 kg of asafoetida worth Rs 22.31 lakh from spice traders in Vashi and Nerul. At Shree Balaji Dairy, Ice Cream and Falooda in Uran, Raigad district, 93 litres of raw loose buffalo milk was seized on suspicion of being substandard and adulterated.

In the Pune division, 2.11 tonnes of food worth Rs 7.93 lakh was seized. The biggest seizure was 1,337 kg of khoya worth Rs 4.81 lakh, caught on October 22 in a vehicle on the Pune-Pandharpur road within Malshiras police station limits. At Nikhil Masale in Tasgaon, Sangli district, 538 kg of onion-garlic masala (Rs 2.03 lakh) was seized. On October 23, 48 kg of masala (Rs 7,680) was seized from Pasakanti Bandhu A.P. Foods in Solapur. At Dalvi Masale in Narayangaon, Pune district, 187.1 kg of goods, including turmeric, chilli powder and meat masalas, was seized.

In the Nashik division, 4,069 kg of food items and 62.2 litres of ghee, worth Rs 8.25 lakh in all, were seized. These include 430 kg of snacks worth Rs 1.11 lakh from Health Makers Enterprises, 3,210 kg of refined soyabean oil worth Rs 5.47 lakh from Pankaj Oil Mill in Bhagur, 62.2 litres of cow ghee worth Rs 42,775 from Deepak Agency in Yeola, and 367 kg of coconut powder worth Rs 1.23 lakh from Pushpa Trading in Panchavati, Nashik. The department said the items were seized on suspicion of being substandard or adulterated, and some are alleged to be wrongly labelled.

In the Nagpur division, 883.3 kg of oil worth about Rs 1.77 lakh was seized from Musa Oil Industries in Chandrapur district. It comprised 134.9 kg of refined soyabean oil and 748.4 kg of refined palmolein oil. The department said the oil was stored in reused containers and is suspected to be substandard or unsafe.

By weight, the largest seizure was in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, where 26.84 tonnes of goods worth about Rs 64 lakh were seized. At Ganraj Industries in Vasmat, Hingoli district, 23,700 kg of turmeric powder worth Rs 59.5 lakh was seized on suspicion of adulteration. From Kisan Industries in Nanded district, 898 kg of chilli powder worth Rs 1.79 lakh and 718 kg of salt worth Rs 5,744 were seized. At Padmini Masale in Latur district, 1,217 kg of chilli powder worth Rs 2.59 lakh was seized over quality concerns. From Lucky Ice Cream in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 31.6 kg of flavoured frozen dessert was also seized on suspicion of adulteration.

Separate action against banned food items was stepped up. In Greater Mumbai, banned goods worth Rs 4.22 lakh were seized in action on October 22. A case was registered at J.J. Marg police station on October 23, and the accused was booked for a first-time offence. Seven informal samples were taken during the inspection. In Pune, six establishments were inspected on October 22 and banned goods worth Rs 19.56 lakh were seized. FIRs were registered against five establishments, seven people were arrested, five establishments were sealed and two vehicles worth Rs 11 lakh were seized. In the Nashik division, banned goods worth Rs 19,090 were seized, one case was registered and one person was arrested. No establishment was sealed and no vehicle seized there.

In Mumbai, the FDA suspended the licences or registrations of seven establishments. Serious violations of food safety rules were reported to have been found during inspections. They are Ottoman Cafe and Bharat Canteen in Andheri West, Chacha Eagle Kulfi Falooda in Jogeshwari West, Green Turtle Hospitality in Oshiwara, Atul Tiffin in Byculla, Mumbai Darbar Family Restaurant in Lower Parel and P.B. Enterprises in Sewri West. Lapses cited include dirty kitchens and drains, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food kept together, use of unapproved food colours, and workers lacking medical certificates. The FDA said inspections and action against businesses violating food safety rules will continue.