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FDA has inspected 1,594 food outlets and collected 2,369 samples of items, including milk, khoya, ghee, edible oils, sweets, dry fruits, and chocolates
So far, 554 sample reports have been received: 513 samples were found compliant, 26 were judged substandard, four had labelling faults, and 11 were declared unsafe. (AI-generated image)
With festivals around the corner, Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a special inspection drive to curb adulteration in food products, Food and Drug Administration minister Narhari Zhirwal told reporters in Mumbai.
Under the ‘San Maharashtraacha-Sankalp Ann Surakshacha’ state-wide campaign, the FDA has inspected 1,594 food outlets and collected 2,369 samples of items, including milk, khoya, ghee, edible oils, sweets, dry fruits, and chocolates.
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So far, 554 sample reports have been received: 513 samples were found compliant, 26 were judged substandard, four had labelling faults, and 11 were declared unsafe. Reports for the remaining 1,815 samples are pending.
The department has completed recruitment for over 200 posts of Assistant Commissioner (Food) and Food Safety Officers, which had been pending since 2022. A proposal to create an additional 750 posts has been sent to the finance department, Zhirwal said, adding that the extra staff will bolster inspections and lab work.
To speed up analysis, the state has upgraded its laboratory network. Construction of new labs in Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Pune is complete, and inaugurations will follow soon. To run these labs effectively, the government has proposed 250 new posts. Deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar has approved Rs 200 crore for lab strengthening.
Zhirwal also announced funding for the Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing: Rs 25 crore to support polio vaccine production and Rs 1.5 crore for anti-snake venom work. Following recommendations from the Dr Mashelkar Committee, the government has set up a three-member oversight panel, including the secretaries of Medical Education, Finance Planning, and Public Health.
The minister said the milk-testing drive will be expanded. He also noted that recent GST cuts have reduced drug prices and retailers who do not pass these reductions on to consumers will face action under the law.
The scale of sampling and the investment in labs and staff underline the administration’s intent: to keep festival plates safe. For many shoppers, visible inspections in bazaars and roadside shops will be reassuring. For investigators, the real work is in the labs, where pending reports will determine the next wave of enforcement.
In the weeks ahead, consumers should expect more spot checks and clearer, lab-backed decisions. Officials say the campaign is about prevention but it will also be about consequences when rules are broken. The message is plain and direct: food safety will not be left to chance this festive season.
About the Author
Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa…Read More
Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa… Read More
October 07, 2025, 11:42 IST
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