The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licence of a Velocity Express warehouse linked to Parle Agro in Mumbai after officials found and seized expired beverages worth INR 99,970 during an overnight inspection.
The warehouse, located in the Prayag Nagar area on L.U. Gadkari Marg near Chembur’s Washinaka, was inspected by a team of eight FDA officials from around 6 pm on August 13 until 5 am on August 14.
According to the FDA, the seized stock included expired batches of Appy Fizz, Frooti and Candy Juice. The products were prohibited from being sold, transported or distributed further.
Following the inspection, authorities sealed the warehouse and detained two vehicles reportedly used for transporting the products. No food items from the facility will be permitted to be sold or moved until further instructions, officials said.
The action comes amid an intensified food safety crackdown being led by Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe across the state. The department has been conducting inspections of restaurants, food establishments, warehouses and businesses operating through online delivery platforms.
In a statewide inspection drive on August 13, the FDA inspected 86 food establishments operating through online platforms. The department suspended 14 food business licences, issued improvement notices to 60 establishments and ordered one business to stop operations immediately. Officials also seized 698 kg of dairy products worth INR 34,302.
The FDA also carried out inspections at 109 hotels, restaurants, dhabas and other food establishments. Improvement notices were issued to 49 businesses, while the licences of four establishments were suspended.
The wider drive also resulted in the seizure of prohibited products such as pan masala and gutkha. The FDA said 10 FIRs were registered and nine people were arrested in connection with the sale, distribution and transportation of banned food products.
The latest action against the Parle Agro-linked warehouse is part of the state's broader effort to enforce food safety and hygiene standards and prevent expired or unsafe products from entering the market.
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