FDA seizes 523 kg soyabean oil in Nagpur ahead of festivals, suspends licences of two firms

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stepped up checks on the quality and safety of food items during the festival season. A special inspection drive was run across the state over the past two days. Under it, action was taken against two establishments in Nagpur and the licences of both were suspended.

The first action was at Raj Oil Stores in Nagpur, where 523.40 kg of refined soyabean oil was seized. The seized oil is valued at Rs 83,744. Doubts were raised about the quality of the oil during the inspection, and violations of the mandatory labelling rules for food products also came to light.

The quality of the refined soyabean oil found at Raj Oil Stores during the FDA inspection was found to be suspect. The packaging reads "Milan" refined soyabean oil and the pack states a net weight of 15 kg. Whether the oil is adulterated or fails to meet the prescribed quality standards will be confirmed only after the laboratory report arrives. The FDA has also made the violation of labelling rules, which require essential information to be printed on food products, a ground for action.

The second action was at Shri Sawariya Foods Private Limited on Bhandara Road in Nagpur. A total of 1,998 kg of stock of semolina (rava), refined flour (maida), wheat flour (atta) and gram flour (besan) was seized. The goods are valued at Rs 1,41,440. The licences of both Raj Oil Stores and Shri Sawariya Foods have been suspended.

Action was also taken outside Nagpur under the drive. In Murtizapur, in the Akola division, the licences of Mahalaxmi Gruh Udyog and Gajanan Bikaner were suspended. In Amravati, 107 kg of food items were seized from Maa Bhagwati Mithai and Faral Karkhana. A suspicion of the use of an unapproved colour in sev emerged there, after which the establishment was made to stop operations.

The aim of these actions is to ensure the quality and safety of food items sold in the market during the festivals. Further action will be taken on the basis of the test reports on the seized goods.