The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended 13 food licenses and seized adulterated goods worth Rs 26.4 lakh after inspecting 89 establishments across the state in its latest enforcement drive.
In Beed district, an FIR was registered after officials busted an artificial milk adulteration racket, seizing 1,800 kg of whey powder. In Mahape, Navi Mumbai, raids on local dairies led to the seizure of over 1,300 litres of substandard and adulterated milk.
Food licenses were suspended for Du Brothers Shawarma in Nagpur and Avanti Snacks in Nashik over critical health standard violations.
In Akola's MIDC area, Rs 6.19 lakh worth of refined soybean oil was seized from Sameer Enterprises for severe food labeling violations, while in Dharavi, Mumbai, 228 kg of snacks worth Rs 56,000 were seized from Selvapathi Traders over critical labeling defects.
The FDA also intensified action against banned tobacco products. In the Mumbai division, three establishments were sealed, six people arrested and three FIRs filed in a crackdown on banned gutkha and pan masala.
The Konkan division saw six establishments sealed and seven individuals arrested, with illegal tobacco stock and vehicles worth over Rs 14 lakh seized.
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In the Pune division, three properties were sealed and three people arrested after officials recovered over Rs 8.3 lakh worth of banned scented tobacco, while the Nagpur division saw two arrests and a transport vehicle seized in raids targeting restricted pan masala smuggling.
Several prominent Mumbai establishments also came under scrutiny. The Bombay Presidency Radio Club in Colaba had its food license suspended immediately after dead pests and severe hygiene failures were found, while a McDonald's kiosk in the same area was suspended for failing 18 safety parameters and submitting a misleading compliance report.
Status Restaurant in Nariman Point, Khar Gymkhana, Bajrang Sweet Mart in Santacruz, and Novaara in Malad and ASM Hotels in Andheri also had their licenses or registrations suspended over hygiene and compliance lapses.
Elsewhere in the state, licenses were suspended for Pintu Yadav Sweets in Amravati, Chhappan Bhog Thali Restaurant and Mharo Gayatri Mewad in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Star Bakery in Purna, Parbhani, all for failing to meet basic hygiene and safety standards.
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