2 hrs ago
Maharashtra FDA Sets Year-Long Festival Food Safety Rules
Maharashtra’s food safety department has created one set of rules for food served at festivals throughout the year.
These rules cover meals such as mahaprasad, langar, iftar meals and bhandara food.
Organisers must tell the department about an event at least seven days before it happens.
They must also use caterers who have official licences.
Food safety officers will visit event locations and check cleanliness and food quality.
They will pay special attention to foods that can be adulterated or become unsafe, such as milk, sweets and cooking oil.
Checks will start before festivals and continue after them.
Officials can take action against serious violations but are also expected to treat genuine businesses fairly.
Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration issued a year-long SOP for large-scale religious and festival food distributions.
Organisers must notify the FDA at least seven days in advance and use licensed caterers.
Inspections will begin 21 days before festivals and continue for up to 30 days afterward.
The FDA will test high-risk products including milk, sweets, edible oil, fasting foods, dry fruits and packaged water.
Serious violations may lead to action, while officials were told not to unnecessarily harass legitimate businesses.
- Who
- The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, food safety officers, event organisers and licensed caterers.
- What
- A year-long Standard Operating Procedure for inspecting and regulating food distributed at festivals, fairs and religious events.
- Where
- Across Maharashtra, with statewide, regional and local monitoring depending on the festival.
- When
- The SOP applies throughout the year; inspections begin 21 days before festivals, and follow-up action can continue for up to 30 days afterward.
- Why
- To reduce adulteration and unsafe food risks during periods when demand for festival foods rises sharply.
Key facts
- Advance notification
- Organisers must inform the FDA at least seven days before an event.
- Caterer requirement
- Food must be prepared and supplied by a licensed caterer.
- Enforcement calendar
- A permanent calendar covers festivals, fairs, urus and other religious celebrations throughout the year.
- Inspection timeline
- Inspections begin 21 days before a festival and follow-up action may continue for up to 30 days afterward.
- Statewide festivals
- Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Diwali, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Christmas and New Year’s Eve receive statewide enforcement.
- Priority products
- Checks focus on milk products, sweets, edible oil, fasting foods, meat, ice, water, food colours, dry fruits, gram flour, bakery products and fruits.
- Used cooking oil
- Oil exceeding the permitted safety limit cannot be reused and must be handed over to authorised agencies.
Quotes
Tukaram Mundhe
Commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration
“Recommendation for sanction of prosecution under section 42 has to be within 14 days after the festival if at all it is needed in case there are violations.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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