A Reliance Retail outlet in Buldhana, Maharashtra, has come under food safety scrutiny after consumers complained of fungal growth and live larvae in packaged Kaju Katli, prompting an inspection by the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA inspected the Reliance Retail outlet at ARD Cinemall on Aug. 8 after receiving the complaint concerning Laxmi Narayan brand Kaju Katli.
The product cited in the complaint belonged to Batch No. SL-04, manufactured on May 29, 2026, with an expiry date of Aug. 29, 2026.
During the inspection, officials found that the complained-about batch was no longer available at the outlet.
However, another batch of the same product, Batch No. SL-09, manufactured on July 20, 2026 and expiring on Oct. 20, 2026, was found in stock.
The FDA collected a sample from the available batch and sent it to an authorised food laboratory for analysis.
As a precautionary measure, officials also seized 54 boxes of Kaju Katli weighing 11.34 kg and valued at Rs 10,238.
The regulatory action against the outlet will depend on the laboratory findings.
Further proceedings are expected under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, if the samples are found to violate prescribed food safety standards.
The development comes days after the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) suspended the licences of two food manufacturers in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra following inspections that revealed serious hygiene and food safety lapses.
At Maharashtra-based Chheda Specialities Foods Pvt Ltd, inspectors reported fungal growth near edible oil tanks, wastewater on processing floors, dead houseflies, damaged insect-proof mesh and raw materials stored on wet and dusty floors.
Workers were also found handling besan dough with bare hands and peeling bananas on contaminated floors near decomposing waste.
FSSAI said the action was taken in the interest of public health and food safety, with the affected units required to implement corrective measures and demonstrate compliance before restrictions are lifted.
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