Mumbai: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has intensified its statewide action against adulterated, substandard and improperly labelled food products, with raids resulting in the seizure of dairy products, sweets, colostrum and prohibited items worth more than Rs 10 lakh.

The crackdown comes alongside a Bombay High Court ruling concerning Udupi Swad Restaurant in Thane. The court dismissed the restaurant’s challenge to the suspension of its food licence and directed the operator to approach the Commissioner of Food Safety if it wanted to appeal against the action.

The FDA had suspended the restaurant’s licence after a laboratory examination of a paneer sample found foreign fat and declared it unsafe under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Bombay High Court backs FDA action against Thane restaurant

The case relates to M/s Udupi Swad Restaurant in Thane, where FDA officials had collected a sample of loose paneer for testing.

According to the government laboratory report, the sample contained foreign fat rather than dairy-based ingredients and was declared “Unsafe” under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The FDA subsequently found that the restaurant was allegedly purchasing a cheese analogue and selling it as paneer without informing customers.

The Assistant Commissioner and Designated Officer in Thane then ordered the immediate suspension of the restaurant’s food licence.

The restaurant challenged the decision before the Bombay High Court through a writ petition. During the September 16 hearing, the Maharashtra administration argued that protecting public health justified immediate action and relied on provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act concerning suspension of licences in the public interest.

The High Court dismissed the petition and directed the restaurant operator to pursue an appeal before the Commissioner of Food Safety.

FDA seizes over 5,000 kg of dairy products and sweets

As part of the wider statewide crackdown, the Maharashtra FDA reported the seizure of 5,132.9 kg of dairy products and sweets, along with 878 litres of liquid colostrum.

The dairy and sweet products included butter, khoya or mawa, paneer, ghee and shrikhand. The combined value of this stock was reported at around Rs 6.55 lakh.

Officials also seized another 2,127 kg of food products valued at approximately Rs 3.68 lakh. The seized items included gulab jamun special mix, jaggery, barfi, modak pedha, farsan, boondi, mysore pak, manvi halwa, shev and motichoor laddoo.

The actions covered several districts, with officials flagging issues involving storage conditions, labelling, suspected adulteration and the use of ingredients that did not meet prescribed requirements.

Pune butter stock seized over labelling violations

In Pune’s Kelawade area, FDA officials inspected Deccan Cold Storages India Pvt Ltd and found 4,891.9 kg of pasteurised cooking butter.

The stock was valued at approximately Rs 4.15 lakh. According to the FDA, the product allegedly failed to comply with packaging and labelling requirements and was suspected to be adulterated.

The action highlights the FDA’s focus not only on suspected adulteration but also on compliance with food packaging and labelling rules.

878 litres of colostrum intercepted in Palghar

FDA officials also intercepted a vehicle carrying 878 litres of colostrum at the Charoti Toll Plaza on NH-48 in Palghar.

The product was valued at approximately Rs 1.05 lakh. Officials said it was being transported without adequate labelling and temperature control and under unhygienic conditions.

Maintaining appropriate temperature and hygiene during transportation is particularly important for perishable dairy-related products, making such violations a focus of food safety inspections.

Prohibited gutkha and pan masala stock seized

The FDA also carried out enforcement drives in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Amravati divisions against the illegal storage, sale and transportation of prohibited products such as gutkha, pan masala and scented tobacco.

In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, officials seized prohibited stock valued at Rs 2.74 lakh, along with a vehicle valued at around Rs 3 lakh that was allegedly being used to transport the stock. An FIR was registered and two people were arrested.

In Amravati, officials seized prohibited stock worth Rs 23,200, registered an FIR and arrested one person. Together, the two operations resulted in two FIRs and three arrests.

Food establishments across Maharashtra under scrutiny

The FDA’s enforcement activity has extended to dairies, sweet shops and other food businesses in districts including Pune, Kolhapur, Jalna, Sangli and Parbhani.

Officials have reported violations involving unhygienic conditions, improper storage, labelling defects and suspected adulteration. The department has also warned food businesses against using artificial or substitute ingredients in place of genuine dairy products without clearly informing consumers.

The FDA has said that violations can lead to measures including cancellation or suspension of food licences, closure of establishments and criminal proceedings under applicable food safety laws.

Tukaram Mundhe warns of strict action

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the Maharashtra Government was taking a strict approach towards food quality and enforcement.

“The Government of Maharashtra is extremely strict regarding the quality of food and the enforcement of the law. Playing with the health of consumers and the public will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” Mundhe said.

He warned that legal action would be taken against those involved in selling or storing expired or adulterated food products.

The FDA has also urged consumers to report suspected food safety violations through its toll-free number 1800223365 or its online grievance portal.

Crackdown continues across the state

The latest enforcement drive combines action against suspected adulterated dairy products with checks on food labelling, storage and transportation, as well as enforcement against prohibited products.

The Bombay High Court’s decision in the Udupi Swad case has also reaffirmed the immediate regulatory action taken by the FDA in that matter, while leaving the restaurant with the option of pursuing an appeal before the Commissioner of Food Safety.

With inspections continuing across multiple districts, food businesses remain under scrutiny for compliance with food safety requirements, while consumers have been encouraged to report suspected violations to the authorities.