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Maharashtra FDA Seizes Suspected Food Stock During Ganeshotsav Drive
Maharashtra food safety officers checked food businesses during Ganeshotsav.
They were looking for unsafe sweets, dairy products, oils and fasting foods.
From September 1 to 23, they seized a large amount of food they suspected was unsafe.
The seized food weighed 6.34 lakh kilograms and was valued at Rs 9.76 crore.
Officials also collected samples and took action against businesses that did not meet safety rules.
Nashik had the biggest seizure.
Officers checked some community kitchens where devotees were served food.
The FDA says the checks were meant to protect people without interrupting religious activities.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration seized 6.34 lakh kg of suspected food stock valued at Rs 9.76 crore from September 1 to 23.
Officials conducted 3,068 inspections, collected 2,423 samples, suspended 248 licences and cancelled 12 licences.
The Nashik division recorded the largest seizure: 4.42 lakh kg worth approximately Rs 6.23 crore.
The FDA issued 1,506 improvement notices and filed 455 cases, recovering Rs 53.60 lakh in penalties from 398 disposed cases.
Officials inspected 383 community food-distribution sites after 3,198 Ganesh mandals applied online for bhandara, annachhatra or mahaprasad.
- Who
- The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, led in the report by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, conducted the drive.
- What
- Officials inspected food establishments, seized suspected food stock, collected samples and took licensing and legal action.
- Where
- Across Maharashtra, including Nashik and Mumbai, as well as 383 community food-distribution sites.
- When
- The statewide drive ran from September 1 to 23, 2026, as Ganeshotsav drew to a close.
- Why
- To prevent unsafe food from reaching devotees while supporting safe festival food distribution.
Key facts
- Seized stock
- 6.34 lakh kg of suspected food stock
- Estimated value
- Rs 9.76 crore
- Inspections
- 3,068 inspections statewide
- Samples collected
- 2,423 food samples
- Licensing action
- 248 licences suspended and 12 cancelled
- Legal penalties
- Rs 53.60 lakh recovered from 398 disposed cases
- Largest division seizure
- Nashik: 4.42 lakh kg valued at approximately Rs 6.23 crore
- Community-food inspections
- 383 sites inspected after applications from 3,198 Ganesh mandals
Sources
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