The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized 3,098.46 tonnes of food stock worth Rs 63.45 crore and suspended 954 food licences during a statewide enforcement drive in the past two months, officials said.
The festive drive was run between September 1 and November 3 under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the agency said in a statement.
During the drive, the agency inspected 9,667 food establishments across Maharashtra and issued 4,603 notices asking them to improve their operations. It also started the process of cancelling 25 licences or registrations and seized 3,098.46 tonnes of food stock valued at ₹63.45 crore.
The inspections covered different parts of the food supply chain, including manufacturing units, warehouses, transporters, retail shops, hotels, restaurants, caterers, online food platforms and quick-commerce warehouses.
As part of a separate campaign ahead of Diwali, the FDA carried out inspections between October 15 and November 3. During this period, it inspected 3,332 establishments, issued 1,501 improvement notices and suspended 326 licences or registrations. It also began cancellation proceedings against 15 licences or registrations and collected 3,864 food samples for testing.
The agency seized 1,886.44 tonnes of food products worth ₹44.37 crore during the Diwali-specific drive.
Edible oils and spices accounted for a large share of the food stock seized during the broader two-month campaign.
PTI
