Mumbai, November 7: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended 43 food business licences and seized 17,824 kg of food articles worth ₹63.09 lakh during a special enforcement drive ahead of Diwali.
The drive, led by FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, was conducted on November 6 and 7 across 73 establishments in the state’s seven administrative divisions, according to an official statement issued on Saturday.
The inspections covered Greater Mumbai, Konkan, Nashik, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nagpur and Amravati. Officials targeted businesses dealing in sweets, khoya, paneer, farsan, Diwali snacks, dry fruits and edible oils. Hotels, clubs, canteens, grocery stores, e-commerce platforms and catering establishments were also inspected.
Food articles were seized from 29 establishments. The FDA said perishable items considered hazardous to public health were destroyed on the spot in the presence of witnesses.
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Nagpur recorded the highest number of licence suspensions, with 18 establishments facing action. Nashik followed with nine suspensions, while Greater Mumbai reported five.
Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Amravati each recorded three licence suspensions, while two establishments in the Konkan division faced similar action.
During the inspections, officials identified several violations of food safety regulations. These included unhygienic manufacturing and storage conditions, missing wire mesh on windows, inadequate pest-control measures and failure to maintain mandatory food safety management system records.
Some establishments also failed to provide water analysis reports, medical certificates of food handlers and purchase bills, the FDA statement said.
Among the businesses facing action was Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd, which operates the quick-commerce platform Blinkit, in Wardha. The department also suspended the licence of Mumbai’s Orient Club and took action against several sweet shops and food establishments in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, Pune and Nagpur.
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In a separate operation, FDA officials seized 3,935 kg of khoya and sweets from two vehicles transporting food articles on highways.
The department also recovered penalties amounting to ₹70,000 in five cases registered under the Food Safety and Standards Act in Borivali and Bhandup areas of Mumbai.
Additionally, officials collected 10 food samples during the inspections and sent them for laboratory analysis.
The special enforcement drive comes ahead of Diwali, when demand for sweets, snacks and other food products typically rises, prompting increased inspections to ensure compliance with food safety standards.
–IANS
