Maharashtra FDA suspends 19 food licences; acts against Patanjali distributor over 'adulteration'

Mumbai, The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended licences of 19 food business operators, including a super distributor of Patanjali Ayurved, and seized food articles worth over Rs 9 crore during a special festive-season drive.

In an official statement on Monday, the FDA said it seized around 3.53 lakh kg of food articles valued at Rs 9.01 crore from 114 establishments across seven divisions of Maharashtra during the campaign.

The seized stock included 2,279.7 litres of Patanjali cow ghee worth Rs 20.20 lakh from M/s Divya Mahavitarak, a super distributor of Patanjali Ayurved in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, on suspicion of misbranding and adulteration, it added.


The FDA said 4,032 units of the ghee were seized, comprising 2,998 units (1,349.1 litres) valued at Rs 12.29 lakh and 1,034 units (930.6 litres) worth Rs 7.91 lakh. The stock was prima facie found to be in contravention of provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, it said.

The FDA said licences and registrations of 19 establishments, including namkeen, sweetmeat and spice manufacturing units in Mumbai, Amravati and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar divisions, were suspended over serious hygiene deficiencies and violations of food safety regulations.

The action included establishments found operating in unhygienic conditions, storing food improperly, lacking pest control and cleaning records, failing to maintain mandatory documentation and not complying with prescribed safety standards, it said.

The FDA said the drive also resulted in seizure of 1,44,218 kg of edible oil from Avenue Supermarts Ltd in Bhiwandi, Thane district, while 20,560 kg of rice, pulses, jaggery and other food articles were seized from Amin Traders in Satara.

In Pune division, edible oil was seized from Swati Oil Mills in Satara and S G Traders in Solapur, it said.

The FDA said that between October 28 and 31, banned food articles worth Rs 79.40 lakh were seized from 17 establishments.

During the period, 13 FIRs were registered, 16 persons arrested, seven establishments sealed and six vehicles seized, it said.

The agency also inspected 34 hotels, restaurants and dhabas in Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur divisions and served 29 improvement notices over food safety and hygiene deficiencies.

The FDA said the action was taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and relevant rules and regulations.

It also noted that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had issued show-cause notices to Tata 1mg Healthcare Solutions, ACFO Pharmaceuticals, Amazon Seller Services and Flipkart India over alleged violations in the labelling and advertising of Tata 1mg Marine Collagen Powder.

The companies have been asked to submit explanations within 30 days, it said.