Maharashtra FDA Intensifies Statewide Food Adulteration Crackdown
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has intensified inspections and enforcement operations against establishments violating food safety norms across the state, drawing strong support from the state leadership.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis commended the ongoing drive against adulterated food, unsafe products, and unhygienic eateries, stating that strict action is necessary to protect the health of citizens. FDA teams have been carrying out frequent raids, seizing adulterated products and suspending the licences of dairies, hotels, and retail shops found operating in unhygienic conditions.
The statewide enforcement push gained momentum after Tukaram Mundhe took charge as the FDA Commissioner. Fadnavis noted that quality norms are clearly defined and violations directly threaten public health, adding that adulterated food can pose serious life risks. He confirmed that the strict enforcement drive will continue across Maharashtra.
The enforcement efforts follow directives from Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who instructed the department to take stringent measures against those involved in the adulteration of milk, paneer, dairy items, and other essential foods. During a review meeting with Mundhe at Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai on August 11, Shinde reviewed the department's operations.
Shinde instructed officials to explore invoking the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999, against individuals and networks engaged in organised food adulteration. He also ordered the registration of non-bailable offences wherever applicable, warning of the severe impact adulterated food has on public health.
To ensure enforcement actions withstand judicial scrutiny, Shinde directed the FDA to establish a dedicated legal team comprising experienced experts to prevent procedural and legal shortcomings in cases presented before the courts.
