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MUMBAI: Ahead of the festive season, the Food and Drug Administration of Maharashtra has seized adulterated and substandard food items worth over ₹9 crore during coordinated raids across seven divisions. The regulator suspended the licences and registrations of 19 food business operators, including a super distributor of Patanjali Ayurved, after finding severe non-compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Inspecting 114 establishments, enforcement teams confiscated roughly 3.53 lakh kilograms of essential provisions, ranging from edible oil, rice, pulses, and jaggery to roughly 950 litres of suspected adulterated ghee.
Patanjali Ghee and Large Oil Consignments Seized
In Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, officials raided the premises of Messers Divya Mahavitrak, a super distributor of Patanjali Ayurved, confiscating 2,279.7 litres of Patanjali cow ghee valued at ₹20.20 lakh. The action was prompted by suspected adulteration and misbranding. The seized inventory comprised 4,032 units, with 2,998 packs holding 1,349.1 litres worth ₹12.29 lakh, and 1,034 packs containing 930.6 litres valued at ₹7.91 lakh. Initial inquiries revealed that the consignment failed statutory standards, though final conclusions remain subject to formal laboratory testing.
Large-scale seizures were also reported from other supply hubs. In Bhiwandi within Thane district, officials seized 1,44,218 kilograms of edible oil from Avenue Supermarts Limited. In Satara, an inspection at Ameen Traders led to the confiscation of 20,560 kilograms of rice, pulses, jaggery, and other dry provisions. Similar operations in the Pune division targeted Swati Oil Mills in Satara and SG Traders in Solapur, where substantial stocks of edible oil were taken into custody pending inquiry.
Sanitation Failures Prompt Wholesale Licence Suspensions
Licences and registrations were revoked across Mumbai, Amravati, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar for 19 manufacturing units producing snacks, sweets, and spices. Inspectors uncovered critical hygiene defects, absent pest control systems, unmaintained cleaning logs, and improper storage environments. Many operators failed to furnish mandatory compliance documents. Parallel inspections of 34 hotels, restaurants, and roadside eateries across Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and Nagpur resulted in improvement notices served to 29 establishments found operating with hygiene deficiencies.
Enforcement Steps Up with Multiple Arrests and Fir Registrations
In a distinct enforcement phase conducted between October 28 and October 31, authorities seized banned food products valued at ₹79.40 lakh from 17 establishments. Police registered 13 FIRs and arrested 16 individuals, while sealing seven premises and impounding six transport vehicles. Meanwhile, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India issued show-cause notices to Tata 1mg Healthcare Solutions, ACFO Pharmaceuticals, Amazon Seller Services, and Flipkart India over alleged labelling and advertising violations concerning Tata 1mg Marine Collagen Powder, mandating replies within 30 days.
