Maharashtra FDA Seizes Patanjali Cow Ghee Worth ₹20.20 Lakh Ahead of Diwali; 19 Food Businesses Lose Licences
Maharashtra : In a major food safety crackdown ahead of Diwali, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), led by Tukaram Mundhe, has seized food products worth approximately ₹9 crore across the state. Among the major seizures was a stock of Patanjali cow ghee valued at ₹20.20 lakh, which officials suspect may have been misbranded and adulterated.
According to reports, the FDA seized approximately 3.53 lakh kilograms of food products, along with 2,279.7 litres of Patanjali cow ghee from M/s Divya Mahavitarak, a super distributor of Patanjali based in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The action was taken as part of a special food safety inspection drive to prevent the sale of unsafe and potentially adulterated food products during the festive season.
The seized ghee comprised 4,032 units in total. This included 2,998 units containing 1,349.1 litres, valued at ₹12.29 lakh, and another 1,034 units containing 930.6 litres, worth ₹7.91 lakh. The department stated that preliminary findings indicated possible violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Apart from the ghee seizure, the FDA has taken strict action against food businesses found violating safety and hygiene regulations. During inspections conducted between October 28 and 31, officials checked 114 establishments across seven divisions of Maharashtra. Following the inspections, the licences and registrations of 19 food business operators were suspended due to serious deficiencies and violations.
The affected establishments included namkeen, sweet and spice manufacturing units operating in the Amravati, Mumbai and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar divisions. Officials reported several hygiene-related problems, including unhygienic premises, insect and rodent infestations, uncovered food products, inadequate pest-control records, improper storage arrangements and the absence of medical fitness certificates for workers.
The department also inspected 34 hotels, restaurants and dhabas across the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik and Nagpur divisions. Following these inspections, 29 improvement notices were issued to establishments over shortcomings in food safety and hygiene standards.
During the statewide operation, prohibited food products worth ₹79.40 lakh were seized from 17 establishments. The FDA also confiscated approximately 1,44,218 kilograms of edible oil from Avenue Supermarts Ltd. in Bhiwandi. In Satara, officials seized 20,560 kilograms of rice, pulses, jaggery and other food products from Amin Traders.
Further action was taken in the Pune division, where edible oil stocks were seized from Swati Oil Mills in Satara and S G Traders in Solapur.
The extensive enforcement drive resulted in the arrest of 16 individuals, registration of 13 FIRs and sealing of seven establishments.
The crackdown highlights the Maharashtra FDA’s efforts to strengthen food safety monitoring during the festive season, when the demand for sweets, ghee, edible oil, snacks and other food products rises significantly. Through inspections, seizures and action against violating businesses, the department aims to protect consumers from potentially unsafe, misbranded and adulterated food products.
The FDA’s investigation and further regulatory action will help determine the nature and extent of the suspected violations and ensure that food businesses comply with prescribed safety and quality standards.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
