FDA Seizes Expired Food Worth Over Rs 52 Lakh In Bhiwandi Racket Bust

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has busted an interstate racket involved in relabelling and recirculating expired and damaged food items back into the commercial market, officials reported on June 29, 2026. The illegal operations were uncovered during a series of coordinated raids conducted at various business establishments located in Bhiwandi town, which is situated in the Thane district of Maharashtra.

During these targeted raids, FDA authorities managed to seize a massive cache of illegal food stock. The total value of the confiscated goods is estimated to be worth over Rs 52 lakh. According to officials, the seized items consisted of expired and damaged food products that were being prepared for resale to unsuspecting consumers.

The illicit operation involved a systematic process where expired and damaged food items were collected, relabelled with false packaging and dates, and then recirculated back into the active commercial market. By changing the labels, the operators of the racket attempted to make the unsafe food products appear fresh and suitable for consumption, presenting a major public health hazard.

The FDA's action in Bhiwandi town successfully intercepted these goods before they could be distributed further. The official who confirmed the raids noted that the racket had an interstate reach, indicating that the network for sourcing and distributing these expired food items extended beyond the borders of Maharashtra.

The seizure of stock worth over Rs 52 lakh marks a significant action by the Maharashtra FDA against food adulteration and illegal repackaging in the Thane region. The authorities have confiscated all the illegal inventory found at the Bhiwandi establishments as part of their ongoing efforts to ensure food safety standards are maintained across the state.