Mumbai. Ahead of the Diwali festival, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken major action in Maharashtra through a statewide drive against adulteration and violations of food safety rules. During special inspections carried out on 4 and 5 November, the department suspended the licences of 105 food business operators, while seven establishments were ordered to shut down operations. In the drive, food items worth about Rs 1.35 crore were seized from more than 69 establishments.
More than 39,000 kg of food material seized: According to the FDA, a total of more than 39,485 kg of food material was seized. This included mawa, khoya, paneer, ghee, edible oil, farsan, dry fruits and various types of sweets. Officials found irregularities such as unhygienic production and storage conditions, improper packing of food items, lack of pest control and absence of temperature management arrangements.
Twenty-eight licences suspended in Mumbai: Among the licences suspended in the state were 39 establishments in the Nashik division, 28 in Mumbai, 20 in Pune, 15 in Amravati, two in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and one in Thane. In Mumbai, licences of business operators linked to Blinkit and Zepto were also suspended. Action was also taken against sweet shops, hotels, restaurants and food manufacturers.
Action on banned products too: During the campaign, stocks of banned products such as gutkha and pan masala worth about Rs 7.96 lakh were also seized. Three FIRs were registered in this connection and two people were arrested. Two vehicles were also seized.
The FDA has made it clear that establishments whose licences have been suspended will not be able to conduct food business during the suspension period. The department has warned that strict action will continue against those ignoring food safety rules and adulteration during the festive season.
Hashtags: #MumbaiCity #Bhopal #Diwali #FDA #FoodSafety #Maharashtra #MajorAction #105 #Licences #FDASuspends105Licences
