The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stepped up its enforcement drive against food adulteration and unhygienic practices, suspending the licences and registrations of 21 food establishments across Pune, Mumbai and Konkan divisions. The department also seized suspected substandard and misbranded food products worth approximately ₹4.70 lakh during inspections in several districts.
The statewide action, carried out around October 8, covered restaurants, bakeries, sweet shops, dairy units, cloud kitchens, food manufacturers and retail outlets. Officials identified violations involving poor sanitation, improper storage, pest infestation, inadequate food safety documentation and licensing irregularities.
In Dhule district, FDA officials seized 8,020 litres of suspected substandard packaged drinking water worth ₹1.63 lakh from Shivay Beverages LLP at Nardana MIDC. Inspections across Jalna, Dharashiv, Hingoli and Nanded led to further seizures worth approximately ₹3.03 lakh, involving malai pedha, rice, ghee, pumpkin seeds and toor dal.
Among these, officials seized malai pedha worth ₹2,500 from Maa Nagnechi Bikaner Sweet Mart in Jalna on suspicion of adulteration. In Nanded, 888 kg of Ajanta-brand toor dal worth ₹1.46 lakh was seized from the kitchen of Eklavya Model Residential School after the stock was found to be substandard.
In Raigad district, the FDA seized 65 litres of misbranded loose milk worth ₹4,140 from Shiv Kailas Dairy in Taloja. The stock included raw cow and buffalo milk, with samples collected for further examination and legal proceedings.
Mumbai witnessed the suspension of five food establishment licences following inspections that revealed shortcomings in hygiene, food storage, pest control and regulatory documentation. Establishments facing action included a Barista Coffee outlet at Shivaji Park, Sandy Da Dhaba in Malad West, Rajidi Retail in Bhandup, Food Hub cloud kitchen in Malad West and Milkow’s Dairy Products in Kandivali East.
Inspectors reported issues ranging from unclean refrigeration equipment and inadequate temperature monitoring to pest infestation, improperly stored food, expired ingredients and missing employee medical fitness certificates.
In the Konkan division, action was taken against Chawla Enterprises, operating as Bhagat Tarachand in Panvel, after officials observed unsanitary kitchen and storage conditions and deficiencies in food-handling practices and mandatory records.
Pune division accounted for 15 establishments whose licences or registrations were suspended. The inspections covered restaurants, bakeries, catering businesses, food manufacturers and storage facilities.
At Chinese Story in Hinjewadi, officials reported cockroach infestation, poor drainage and inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. New Rajdhani Bakery in Loni Kalbhor was cited for unhygienic conditions, improper food storage and incomplete compliance records.
Other establishments facing regulatory action included Shree Vighnaharta Caterers, Red Chilly Chinese, Oye Kiddan Restaurant, Aai Mata Farsan and Wefers, Maratha Caterers, Thakkar Dining Hall and Radhakrishna Hotel – World of Pure Veg. The violations included pest activity, poor sanitation, expired food products, inadequate cleaning procedures and deficiencies in employee hygiene and food safety training.
The FDA also identified establishments operating without appropriate food licences or registrations, highlighting the need for businesses to obtain approvals corresponding to their actual food-handling and manufacturing activities.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has stressed strict action against establishments compromising food quality, hygiene and consumer safety.
The enforcement drive highlights the importance of maintaining proper sanitation, temperature-controlled storage, pest-control systems, employee hygiene, product traceability and updated food safety records.
With food production and sales increasing during the festive season, the action serves as a reminder to manufacturers, retailers and food-service operators that compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, extends beyond product quality to the conditions in which food is prepared, stored, handled and sold.