FDA seizes 1.5 tonnes of expired food from Bhiwandi warehouses
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday seized approximately 1.5 tonnes of expired, damaged, and spoiled food products during a raid at warehouses in Prathmesh Complex, Sarvali village in Bhiwandi, Thane. The operation was part of an ongoing FDA crackdown launched after a food poisoning incident last week that hospitalised more than 120 people.
Following the raid, FDA officials registered a criminal case against warehouse owner Rehman K and facility manager Somsekhar Basavraj Konnur at the Kon police station. The case was registered under provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
According to the FDA, an unnamed American online retailer had contracted a firm named R.K. Traders to dispose of its expired food products. However, investigators found that R.K. Traders was not authorised to undertake such disposal work.
During the raid, officials discovered that R.K. Traders had allegedly issued fake certificates claiming the expired stock had been destroyed. Instead of disposing of the products, the accused allegedly attempted to reintroduce them into the market after removing them from official records. FDA officials suspect the operation was aimed at generating illegal profits through the sale of these expired food items.
"During the inspection, we found eggs, bread, biscuits, flour, rice and several other food products that were expired, damaged and stored in unhygienic conditions," said Arvind Kandelkar, FDA officer, Thane.
"Instead of destroying the expired and unhygienic food items, they were planning to sell it in the market, risking the lives of customers. We have filed a complaint against the warehouse owner and facility manager," Kandelkar added.
The FDA confirmed that the warehouse has been sealed and its licence has been suspended pending further investigation. This raid follows a broader crackdown in the region. Last week, the agency raided eight locations across Bhiwandi and seized spoiled, adulterated, and unsafe food products worth more than ₹45 lakh.
