Maharashtra FDA seizes 6.34 lakh kg of suspect food in Ganeshotsav drive

Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration seized more than 6.34 lakh kg of suspected adulterated food, valued at roughly ₹9.76 crore, during a statewide enforcement drive held through the Ganeshotsav period from September 1 to 23, 2026.

Inspections covered 3,068 food establishments. Authorities issued improvement notices to 1,506 of them, suspended the licences of 248 for serious violations and cancelled 12 more. A total of 2,423 samples of sweets, khoa, dairy products, edible oils and fasting foods were drawn for laboratory analysis.

The department said further legal action would follow once lab reports confirm whether seized stock is unsafe or substandard.

Nashik division recorded the largest haul, with about 4.43 lakh kg of suspect stock worth ₹6.23 crore. Konkan division followed with 1.25 lakh kg valued at ₹1.54 crore, while Pune division accounted for 46,266 kg worth ₹1.52 crore. In Brihanmumbai, officials collected 88 samples and seized 4,203.55 kg of suspected food stock worth ₹16.24 lakh.

The FDA said the drive was prompted by a sharp festive spike in demand for modak, pedha, khoa, paneer, ghee, milk, curd, edible oil and dry fruits, along with fasting staples such as bhagar, sabudana and rajgira. That surge, it said, raises the risk of adulterated or unsafe products reaching consumers.

Enforcement was focused on production units, mills, khoa markets, cold storages, warehouses and wholesale markets so that suspect food could be intercepted before it reached consumers, without disrupting religious ceremonies or food distribution at festival venues.

As part of a longer-term mechanism, the FDA has launched a dedicated Festival Enforcement Portal to implement a standing order covering festivals through the year. The portal sets timelines for inspections, monitoring, public awareness and legal action beginning 21 days before a festival and running for 30 days after it, and allows festival organisers to submit information about community food distribution online.

During Ganeshotsav, 3,198 Ganesh mandals across the State applied online to organise bhandaras, annachhatras and mahaprasad distribution. Food Safety Officers then conducted risk-based inspections at 383 locations, checking cooking areas, drinking water, raw materials, food storage and the hygiene practices of food handlers.

The department also filed 455 cases under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, during the drive. Of these, 398 were disposed of, with penalties totalling ₹53.60 lakh recovered. Pune division registered the highest number of cases at 176, followed by Konkan at 133.

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe urged citizens to buy sweets, prasad and fasting foods only from licensed establishments and to verify licence details and bills. Mandals planning food distribution during Navratri, Durgotsav and other upcoming festivals have been asked to inform the designated FDA officer at least seven days in advance and to engage licensed caterers.