2 hrs ago
Maharashtra FDA Plans Year-Round Festival Food Safety Checks
Maharashtra is preparing for many festivals and large gatherings.
The state’s Food and Drug Administration wants to make sure food served at these events is safe.
It will also check medicines sold in pharmacies.
The department has created a calendar for inspections throughout the year.
This is because people buy more sweets, cooking oil and dairy products during festivals.
More demand can increase the risk of food adulteration.
Food adulteration means making food unsafe or not following required rules.
Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the checks are meant to protect people, not stop them from celebrating.
Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration is increasing inspections during the state’s busy festive season.
Checks will cover food served at public gatherings and medicines sold in pharmacies.
The year-round Festival Enforcement Calendar targets possible adulteration as demand for sweets, oils and dairy products rises.
Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the initiative is intended to protect public safety, not restrict celebrations.
Mundhe said the checks apply to festivals and gatherings including weddings, bhandaras, Eid, Christmas and New Year’s Eve events.
- Who
- Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration and its commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe.
- What
- The department is increasing checks on festival food, medicines sold at pharmacies and food served at large gatherings.
- Where
- Maharashtra.
- When
- During Maharashtra’s packed festive season, under a recently introduced year-round enforcement calendar.
- Why
- To prevent food adulteration and ensure that food is safe and compliant with the law, while protecting public safety.
Key facts
- Official
- Tukaram Mundhe, commissioner of Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration
- Program
- Year-round Festival Enforcement Calendar
- Inspection targets
- Food at public gatherings and medicines sold across pharmacies
- High-demand products
- Sweets, edible oils, dairy products and other food items
- Covered occasions
- Festivals, weddings, bhandaras, Eid, Christmas and New Year’s Eve events
- Legal basis
- Mundhe said the relevant law has existed since 2011
Quotes
Tukaram Mundhe
Commissioner of Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration
“We are not regulating festivals; we are ensuring that food served at festivals – just as in weddings, bhandaras, Eid, Christmas, New Year’s Eve events and other gatherings — is safe and compliant with a law that has existed since 2011”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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