FDA seizes goods worth Rs 18.25 lakh in Pune division drive, suspends 17 food licences
The Food and Drug Administration seized food stock worth Rs 18,25,832 across four districts ahead of the festival season and suspended 17 establishments' food licences.
Demand for food items rises during festivals. With this in mind, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ran a special drive in the Pune division. Stock of food items worth Rs 18,25,832, found to be suspected of adulteration, wrongly labelled or counterfeit, was seized.
The action was carried out between September 26 and 30 in Pune, Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur districts. In addition, the food licences of 17 establishments were suspended after filth and violations of food safety standards were found.
The action was taken under Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe's "Safe Food, Safe Drug, Safe Maharashtra" campaign. In Pune district, milk and milk product makers, sweet sellers, dairies, eateries and other establishments were inspected.
In Pune district, shrikhand worth Rs 25,920 was seized from Navnath Milk and Milk Products. Sweet lassi and mango lassi worth Rs 43,980 were seized from Aditi Milk and Milk Products. Ghee and khoa worth Rs 2,74,700 were seized from Ocean Milk and Food Products.
Almonds worth Rs 4,48,380 were seized from Laxminarayan Trading Company at Market Yard. From Pandian Products and Selling in Purandar, about 5.56 tonnes of assorted sweets worth Rs 5,96,300 were seized.
Cheese worth Rs 2,57,164 was seized from Uruli Devachi and ghee worth Rs 55,600 from Warje. Stock of namkeen was also seized from Morbiwala Sweets and Namkeen.
Stocks of milk products, ghee and cream were also seized in Kolhapur and Sangli districts. There, the licences of 17 establishments, including hotels, restaurants, bakeries and milk collection centres, were suspended after filth, cockroaches and insects were found and food safety standards were violated.
The administration said demand for khoa, mawa, sweets and milk products rises during festivals. According to the administration, milk and these products must not contain unauthorised use of vegetable fat or other ingredients.
The administration has asked people with complaints about the quality or cleanliness of food items to register them on the toll-free number 1800222365.
