Festival Food Under Scanner: FDA Seizes Suspected Adulterated Stock

PUNE : With demand for food products rising during the festive season, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a special drive across Pune district against suspected adulterated and unsafe food products.

Between September 26 and 30, FDA officials inspected several establishments and seized stocks of shrikhand, sweet lassi, mango lassi, ghee, khoya, namkeen, almonds, sweets and cheese, among other products.

In Pune city, papdi and puri namkeen were seized from Morbivala Sweets and Namkeen in Maharshinagar, while almonds were seized from Lakshminarayan Trading Company in Market Yard. Ghee was seized from Lakseswar Dairy in Warje, while cheese was seized from an establishment in Uruli Devachi.

Officials also inspected hotels, restaurants and other food establishments. Action was taken against establishments where violations of food safety standards, poor hygiene and infestation of cockroaches or other pests were reportedly found. Sai Prasad Veg, Manas Family Resto and Lounge, and Shivraj Veg Restaurant in Pune were among those facing action.

Action in rural areas

In rural Pune, FDA teams seized shrikhand from Navnath Milk and Milk Products in Baramati, sweet and mango lassi from Aditi Milk and Milk Products in Nira, and ghee and khoya from Ocean Milk and Food Products in Daund.

Further inspections and action were also reported at several milk collection centres and food establishments across Indapur, Baramati, Daund and Shirur.

The FDA has intensified inspections as part of its festive-season food safety drive.