Stories
Maharashtra FDA Seizes Rs 9.76 Crore Suspected Unsafe Food, Suspends 248 Licences
- •The Maharashtra FDA seized over 6.34 lakh kg of suspected adulterated or unsafe food, valued at Rs 9.76 crore, during a festival enforcement drive from September 1-23.
- •The drive covered 3,068 food establishments, leading to the suspension of 248 food licences and cancellation of 12 across Maharashtra.
- •Nashik accounted for the largest volume of seized stock, with 4,42,746 kg worth Rs 6.23 crore, representing nearly 70% of the total.
- •The FDA issued improvement notices to 1,506 establishments and initiated 455 cases under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, recovering Rs 53.60 lakh in penalties.
- •2,423 food samples, including sweets, dairy products, and edible oils, were collected for analysis, with further action pending laboratory reports.
Key Questions Answered
Between September 1 and 23, the Maharashtra FDA seized over 6.34 lakh kg of suspected unsafe or adulterated food stock valued at Rs 9.76 crore. The statewide drive covering 3,068 establishments also resulted in the suspension of 248 food licences, the cancellation of 12 licences, and improvement notices issued to 1,506 establishments.
Nashik emerged as the biggest center of enforcement by volume, accounting for 4,42,746 kg of suspected food stock worth approximately Rs 6.23 crore. This represented nearly 70% of the total 6.34 lakh kg seized across Maharashtra during the festival enforcement drive.
Ganesh mandals submitted 3,198 applications through the portal to seek permission for community food-distribution programs like bhandara, annachhatra, and mahaprasad. Based on risk assessments, Food Safety Officers visited 383 locations to advise organizers on proper cooking areas, hygiene practices, and raw-material quality.
