FDA Busts Rs 75.5 Lakh Food Expiry Date Racket in Navi Mumbai's Turbhe
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in a joint operation with the Navi Mumbai Police Crime Branch, has busted a racket involved in tampering with expiry dates on packaged food products in Turbhe's TTC Industrial Area. Authorities seized food items worth Rs 75.52 lakh, including popular brands like Maggi and Lay's, the FDA announced on Monday.
Following the operation, the regulatory authority suspended the licence of Sadhana Enterprises, located within the TTC Industrial Area in Turbhe. The joint raid was executed over a six-day period between August 24 and August 29.
According to the FDA, inspections revealed that the establishment was systematically replacing the printed manufacturing and expiry or use-by dates on packaged food items. The original labels detailing ingredients and nutritional values were removed and replaced with new stickers before the entire stock was repackaged. This operation allowed expired products to be sold beyond their intended shelf life.
The seized inventory included several widely consumed snacks and instant meals, such as Lay's potato chips, various Kurkure products, Fun Flips, Maggi Masala, Atta Noodles, and other ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook items.
During the search, officials confiscated 8,442 cartons linked to 10 exporter firms, valued at Rs 75,21,269. Additionally, unlabeled inventory and expired food products valued at approximately Rs 30,600 were seized, bringing the total value of confiscated stock to Rs 75.52 lakh.
Investigators also gathered product samples from Unique Fragrances and Pristine Worldwide during the crackdown, as the two entities allegedly failed to produce the required Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licences and purchase bills.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered at the Turbhe police station under relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The FDA stated that further investigation into the supply chain and distribution network is underway.
