M'tra FDA's Massive Food Safety Drive: 165 Licences Suspended, Unsafe Food Worth ₹55.72 Cr Seized

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has defended its recent enforcement drive, saying its actions were aimed solely at protecting public health and not at targeting any particular businesses. Responding to allegations of selective action, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the department inspected 3,137 food establishments across the state between May 25 and July 31, leading to the suspension of licences of 165 establishments after due process.

The large-scale inspections covered hotels, restaurants, eateries, milk units and other food businesses, with officials issuing 764 improvement notices to establishments found violating food safety norms. During the drive, 28.66 lakh kilograms of unsafe food products, valued at ₹55.72 crore, were seized or destroyed.

Mundhe clarified that licence suspension does not mean permanent closure. Businesses are given an opportunity to rectify deficiencies, following which hearings are conducted before any decision is taken on restoring operations. Of the 165 suspended licences, the FDA has already received 103 appeals, granting interim relief in eligible cases after verifying compliance with safety standards. Orders have been reserved in 38 cases, while 35 appeals are still pending.

The crackdown also targeted prohibited tobacco products. The FDA seized gutka and pan masala worth ₹15.11 crore from 658 outlets. It also registered 519 FIRs, arrested 701 individuals, sealed 407 establishments, and confiscated 78 vehicles as part of the enforcement campaign.

According to the commissioner, inspections included 487 milk establishments, 476 milk product units, 890 hotels, restaurants and eateries, and 608 establishments dealing with other food products. The inspections, he said, have resulted in significant improvements in hygiene, with officials documenting conditions through photographs and videos before and after compliance.

Rejecting claims that the FDA was unfairly targeting businesses, Mundhe asserted that no establishment received VIP treatment and that enforcement decisions were based solely on violations of food safety regulations. Every establishment receiving an improvement notice is provided 15 days to correct deficiencies before stricter action is considered.

Addressing complaints from staff at the FDA laboratory in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Mundhe denied forcing employees to work overtime, explaining that personnel had simply been reorganised into two shifts to extend laboratory operations and speed up food and drug testing. He maintained that the state's priority remains ensuring that citizens are not exposed to unsafe food or medicines.