India's most populous state, Maharashtra, has launched an intensified inspection campaign targeting the food and beverage industry in the run-up to the upcoming festival season. Officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra announced on Monday that over 95 tonnes of food products and 172 litres of milk were seized across the state in just two days of enforcement action.
The seized goods, valued at approximately ₹4.45 crore, included butter, paneer, and khoya — all commonly used in traditional sweets and festive preparations. The operations targeted cold storage facilities and wholesale markets in Ahmednagar, Pune, Nashik, and Buldhana districts.
According to senior FDA officials, the drives were conducted to ensure that consumers get access to safe and hygienic food items during the festive period, when demand for dairy-based products typically surges. The authorities stated that strict action would be taken against manufacturers and vendors found violating quality and safety standards.
During the raid on a cold storage unit in Ahmednagar, officers confiscated 75 kilograms of butter that did not meet prescribed quality norms. In other locations, inspections revealed that several batches of paneer and khoya lacked proper FSSAI labelling or had exceeded their shelf life. The 172 litres of contaminated milk was seized from unauthorised collection centres.
FDA officials emphasised that the state maintains a dedicated monitoring cell during peak festive seasons to prevent adulteration and ensure compliance with food safety regulations. Violators face penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment under the Food Safety and Standards Act, along with closure of their establishments.
Residents have been urged to purchase dairy products only from licensed vendors and to check for FSSAI certification marks before buying ghee, milk, or sweets during the festivals.
