Maharashtra seizes ₹63 crore of festive food stock in two-month crackdown

Planning to buy sweets, ghee or dry fruits this festive season? Maharashtra's food regulator has just shown how much questionable food was out there.

What happened?

Between September 1 and November 3, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the state's food safety regulator) seized food stock worth ₹63.45 crore. Officials inspected 9,667 food establishments, issued 4,603 improvement notices and suspended 954 licences and registrations. They have also started the process of cancelling 25 more.

Inspectors collected 8,835 food samples and seized 3,098.46 metric tonnes of food.

A Diwali special drive, running from October 15 to November 3, is part of those totals. It covered 3,332 establishments, led to 326 suspensions and cancellation proceedings against 15 others. Officials seized 1,886.44 tonnes of food worth ₹44.37 crore and collected 3,864 samples.

What was seized, and where?

Salt, spices and condiments topped the list at ₹21.09 crore. Edible oils followed at ₹16.31 crore. Milk products such as ghee and khava (thickened milk used in sweets) came to ₹7.63 crore, and dry fruits to ₹7.47 crore.

By region, the Konkan division saw the highest seizures at ₹21.17 crore. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar followed with ₹12.37 crore, Pune with ₹10.39 crore and Nashik with ₹10.27 crore.

In Greater Mumbai, officials checked 1,504 establishments, suspended 142 licences and registrations, and seized food worth about ₹1.01 crore.

The drive covered manufacturing, storage, transport, retail outlets, hotels, restaurants, online food sales and quick-commerce warehouses. Sweets, dairy products, edible oils and dry fruits got special attention because demand jumps during festivals. Officials were also told to watch the transport of khava and mawa from other states, amid worries about adulteration and poor storage.

What can you do?

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the rules apply to everyone. "Big brand or small, the rules are the same for all, and enforcement will be equally stringent," he said. He added that the aim is not to harass food businesses but to promote compliance and protect public health.

The FDA's advice for shoppers is simple:

• Buy food from licensed establishments.
• Check expiry dates and food safety registration numbers.
• Avoid products that look adulterated or spoiled.

If you suspect adulteration or any other violation, you can call the FDA's toll-free helpline, 18002223365, or use its online grievance portal.