A major statewide crackdown on food adulteration and food safety violations was carried out by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration during a three-day special campaign conducted between May 25 and May 27. The drive was undertaken across six administrative divisions, where food manufacturing units, packaging facilities, banned product sellers, and establishments suspected of violating safety norms were inspected.
During the campaign, 33 people were arrested and 27 establishments were sealed. Goods worth more than ₹20 lakh were seized as part of the enforcement action. In the Mumbai metropolitan division alone, 19 accused were detained and 19 establishments were sealed, making it one of the most significant zones covered during the operation.
The action was not limited to banned items such as gutkha and pan masala. A wider inspection of food products was also conducted. Samples of packaged drinking water, milk, juices, carbonated beverages, edible oils, sweets, ice cream, toddy, spices, khoya, paneer, ghee, gram flour and bakery products were collected for laboratory testing. Food items worth around ₹28.68 lakh were seized under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Several serious cases were detected during the drive. In Jalgaon, an alleged milk adulteration racket was uncovered, where edible oil was reportedly being mixed with cow milk. In Pune district’s Indapur area, mangoes worth about ₹20,000 were seized after the alleged use of chemicals for artificial ripening was detected.
In Mumbai, action was taken against a noodle manufacturing unit in Dharavi for alleged labelling and food safety violations. In Nashik, proceedings were initiated against establishments accused of licence violations, misleading labelling, and sale of substandard edible oils. In Palghar, stock worth lakhs was seized from an ice cream manufacturing unit that was allegedly operating in unhygienic conditions. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said that no concession would be given to anyone found endangering public health. It was stated that repeat offenders would face stricter action, including chapter cases and possible criminal prosecution.
Citizens were also urged to report suspected cases of food adulteration with proper details about the location, establishment, and products involved. A dedicated mobile application is also being developed by the FDA to make complaint registration easier for the public.