As the festive season fills markets with colourful sweets and tempting snacks, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a massive statewide food safety drive to ensure that citizens bite only into purity, not adulteration.
Between August 11 and October 12, FDA officials conducted 4676 inspections across the state, targeting food products that see a spike in demand during festivals — milk, edible oils, ghee, khoya — mawa, sweets, dry fruits, chocolates, bhagar, and other festive essentials. The results are eye-opening as 918 samples met the standard, while 51 were substandard, 16 unsafe, and eight misbranded for misleading labels. In all, the FDA seized over 8,03,942 kg of suspicious food stock, initiating further legal action against violators.
The drive, which will continue till October 25, is part of the FDA’s special campaign “San Maharashtra cha, Sankalp Anna Surakshitate cha” — focused on protecting consumers during Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Dussehra, and Diwali.
“Our teams are working round-the-clock to ensure that citizens get pure and safe food during festivals. Strict action will be taken against establishments found violating the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006,” said Mangesh Mane, Joint Commissioner (Food), FDA Greater Mumbai.
Under this campaign, the FDA has not only intensified raids but also organised awareness workshops and guidance meetings for sweets, mawa, and farsan manufacturers. The sessions highlight hygiene standards, responsible use of ingredients, and compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines.
FSSAI has directed state authorities to conduct intensive surveillance on milk-based and sweet products during Diwali, urging consumers to “Eat Safe, Eat Healthy.”
“Food safety is a shared responsibility — between regulators, food businesses, and consumers. Our festive drives are not just about catching violators but creating awareness about safe food practices,”said an FSSAI spokesperson.
FDA’s Festive Guidelines for Food Operators
The FDA has issued a set of strict hygiene and safety guidelines for food businesses:
. Use clean utensils and potable water for preparation.
. Avoid reusing edible oil for frying — hand it over to authorised RUCO aggregators.
. Conduct medical checks for food handlers.
. Use only food-grade colours (not exceeding 100 ppm).
. Keep sweets and dairy products covered and store them at proper temperatures.
. Display the FSSAI license number on every sales bill.
FDA’s toll-free helpline: 1800-222-365
