Maharashtra FDA Sets Year-Round Festival Food Safety Calendar

Maharashtra’s food safety department has created a year-round plan for checking food during festivals.

Officials say people buy much more food such as sweets, paneer, meat and dry fruits at these times.

This can make unsafe or adulterated food more likely.

Festivals will be placed into different risk categories.

Before each festival, officials will plan teams, locations and laboratory support.

They may check vehicles carrying food and inspect products during the festival.

They will also check community meals called bhandaras and langars.

Some inspections will focus on bakery products, ice, packaged water, meat and chemically ripened fruit.

If serious problems are found, officials may file a case.

Tukaram Mundhe clarified that the plan regulates festival food safety, not the festivals themselves.