FDA raids two Karachi Sweets units in Wanowrie, destroys 93 kg of sweets

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pune, on November 10 raided two Karachi Sweets units that make sweets in the Wanowrie area. The action was taken under the "Surakshit Ann, Surakshit Maharashtra" campaign. Officials seized a total of 93 kg of sweets, including motichoor laddus, boondi and barfi, and destroyed them. The seized goods were valued at Rs 50,860.

The raid was carried out on both establishments near Jambhulkar Chowk in Wanowrie village. The action was taken by the team of FDA Pune Division-1.

The first unit, M/s Maa Karachi Sweets Mart, is at Survey No. 77/7, Jambhulkar Chowk, Wanowrie. Some 23 kg of sweets was seized here, including 18 kg of motichoor laddus worth Rs 10,800 and 5 kg of barfi worth Rs 5,000. The stock seized from this unit totalled Rs 15,800.

The second unit, M/s Shri Mohan Karachi Sweets Mart, is at Survey Nos. 77/7 and 77/6, Jambhulkar Chowk, Wanowrie. Some 70 kg of sweets was seized here, comprising 41 kg of motichoor boondi worth Rs 14,760 and 29 kg of barfi worth Rs 20,300. The stock seized from this unit totalled Rs 35,060.

According to the FDA, the sweets were suspected of being substandard or unsafe for consumption. Samples taken from the seized goods have been sent to a laboratory to determine their quality and safety. As the sweets were perishable, the entire stock was destroyed on the spot under the prescribed legal procedure.

Over the alleged violation of food safety standards, the FDA has initiated action to suspend the food licences of both units with immediate effect.

The action was carried out by Food Safety Officers P. N. Chavan and P. J. Jadhav. They were guided by N. B. Khose, Assistant Commissioner of the Pune division, and acted on the directions of S. R. Karkale, Joint Commissioner (Food), FDA Maharashtra.

The administration said strict action under the "Surakshit Ann, Surakshit Maharashtra" campaign would continue against food business operators found violating food safety standards.