FDA Seizes 1.5 Tonnes of Expired Food in Bhiwandi Warehouse Raid
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday seized approximately 1.5 tonnes of expired, damaged, and spoiled food products from multiple warehouses in Prathmesh Complex, Sarvali village, located in Bhiwandi, Thane. The raid was conducted as part of an ongoing agency crackdown following a food poisoning incident last week that resulted in the hospitalization of more than 120 people.
During the raid, FDA officials uncovered a scheme where expired food items meant for destruction were being held for illegal resale. An unnamed American online retailer had contracted a firm called R.K. Traders to dispose of its expired food products. However, investigators found that the firm was not authorized to undertake disposal work.
According to the FDA, R.K. Traders had issued fake certificates claiming that the expired stock had already been destroyed. Instead of disposing of the food, the accused allegedly removed the items from official records and stored them with the intention of reintroducing them into the market to generate illegal profits.
"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 for Thane. He added that instead of destroying the unhygienic items, the operators planned to sell them, risking the lives of customers.
Following the raid, FDA officials registered a criminal case against warehouse owner Rehman K and facility manager Somsekhar Basavraj Konnur. The case was registered at the Kon police station under various provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The FDA has sealed the warehouse and suspended its license pending further investigation. This operation follows a series of similar actions in the area; last week, the agency raided eight locations across Bhiwandi, seizing spoiled, adulterated, and unsafe food products valued at more than Rs 45 lakh.
