FDA seizes sweets and khoa in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad inspections ahead of Diwali

With questions being raised over the quality of sweets and dairy products during the festive season, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has carried out a sweeping drive in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. In inspections held on Thursday (the 5th) under the 'Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra' campaign, suspected substandard food items were seized from several establishments.

The campaign is being run on the initiative of FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. Sweet shops, food manufacturers and vendors in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad were inspected. It has been stated that 559 kg of sweets and khoa was destroyed in Pune.

The largest stock was found at Naikwade Dairy and Milk Products in Pimpri Sandas, from where 3,099 kg of khoa, valued at about Rs 9,29,700, was seized. The administration has released the total value of the stock in the Pune division and the final details of the action, but these also cover other districts.

From Bhairavnath Foods in Narayangaon, 666 kg of Mahim halwa and almond halwa was seized. From Madhav Mithas in Ravet, 142 kg of kesari peda and balushahi was seized, while 97 kg of loose boondi was taken from Safa Arshi Sweet Home in Mulshi.

From Bikaner Sweets in Moshi, 160 kg of barfi was seized, from Ruchi Mishtan Bhandar in Dapodi 70 kg of mawa, and from Panchali Sweets in Wadgaon Budruk four kg of motichoor laddu. From Someshwar Gauriprasad Pardeshi in Bibwewadi, 200 kg of sev and boondi was taken. From Kanhaiya Sweets in Shivane, 51 kg of barfi and boondi was seized, and from Bandhan Sweets in Ravet, 91 kg of kalakand and peda.

From Bandhan Sweets in Chinchwad, 119 kg of sweet mawa was seized, and from Hindavi Agency in Shirur, 52 kg of sweet halwa.

The inspections found unhygienic conditions, improper storage, lapses in the use of food colour and a lack of required licences at some establishments. Action was therefore taken against those concerned, including licence suspension and closure of the business. Perishable food items suspected to be unsafe were destroyed.

The administration has appealed to food business operators to run their businesses only after obtaining the required licences and registration, to keep production and sales premises clean, and to store and handle food items properly.