Mumbai, Jul 21 (PTI) The Maharashtra FDA has seized 1,731 litres of milk and 896 kg of milk products valued at Rs 1.44 lakh during a state-wide special inspection drive, and suspended the licences of 16 hotels, restaurants and other eateries for allegedly violating food safety norms, officials said on Tuesday.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it inspected 103 hotels, restaurants, ‘dhabas’ and similar establishments across the state during the special inspection drive between July 16 and 21.
The agency issued improvement notices to 34 establishments and suspended the licences of 16 food businesses after finding serious hygiene and food safety violations.
The action against the dairy sector included the seizure of 1,683 litres of milk from a dairy unit in Govandi in Mumbai over improper storage conditions, while samples of milk were seized from two such units in Sinnar on the suspicion of being substandard.
The FDA said it would continue its special campaign against adulteration of milk and dairy products and take strict legal action against the violators.
According to the regulatory body, the drive also resulted in the seizure of 2,796.5 kilograms of other food items worth Rs 5.56 lakh, while 53 raids were carried out across Maharashtra.
Among the major actions, the FDA seized 1,683 litres of milk worth about Rs 1.07 lakh from Sufi Dairy in Govandi after finding that the milk was not stored at the prescribed temperature and in accordance with food safety standards. The seized stock was destroyed on the spot as it was perishable.
In Latur district, officials seized 9 kilograms of suspected ‘khoya’ (dried milk solids) worth Rs 2,700 from a bakery in Renapur, while a milk vendor in Beed was fined Rs 25,000 for selling pasteurised milk without registration.
The FDA said it also seized 499 kilograms of milk from Laxmi Dudh in Sinnar in Nashik district and 388 kilograms from Sai Dudh Centre in Sinnar after suspecting the products to be of substandard quality.
The licences suspended during the drive included those of several hotels, restaurants, bakeries, canteens and eateries in Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Amravati and Nagpur after inspections revealed poor hygiene and violations of food safety regulations, particularly in kitchens and food storage areas.
The FDA said the statewide enforcement drive also led to action against the sale of banned food products, with 37 FIRs registered, 49 persons arrested and prohibited food stocks worth more than Rs 1.80 crore seized. PTI ND NP
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