Banned tobacco, suspect snacks seized in Mumbai; FDA crackdown nets ₹3.11 crore across Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized banned pan masala and scented tobacco worth ₹7.06 lakh in Mumbai, along with food products suspected of violating safety standards in Kandivali, as part of a Statewide crackdown that netted goods worth approximately ₹3.11 crore.

In a press note issued on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) the FDA said the drive resulted in the seizure of 32,061 litres of edible oil and 37,128 kg of other food stock across Maharashtra. The department also reported action against four Mumbai food establishments over hygiene violations.

In Mumbai, officials seized prohibited pan masala and scented tobacco from a Tata Intra V10 tempo. The stock was valued at ₹7.06 lakh, while the vehicle was worth ₹3 lakh. A case was registered against Uday Sundar Yadav, a resident of Sakinaka, at MIDC police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Food Safety and Standards Act, the FDA said. A sample of the seized material was taken for analysis.

Separately, FDA officials inspected two establishments in Kandivali on October 15, seizing food products valued at ₹25,195. At Shree Sadguru Foods in Kandivali East, they confiscated spicy potato wafers, banana wafers, garlic sev, peanut bhujia and schezwan sticks, suspected of containing colouring. At Shree Ganesh Farsan and Sweet Mart in Kandivali West, jalebi and Maharaja halwa containing colouring, worth ₹3,150, were seized and destroyed on the spot.

The FDA also listed Arabian Shawarma Cafe and Fast Food in Borivali, Nath Fast Food, Nair on Fire Cloud Kitchen in Mahim and Bikaner Sweets and Namkin among establishments facing enforcement action. It cited unclean kitchens and drains, rusted racks and utensils, mixing returned pav with fresh stock, incomplete temperature records, missing medical certificates for workers and use of unauthorised food colours.

While the press note described licence suspensions at four Mumbai establishments, it specifically stated that Bikaner Sweets and Namkin had been issued a notice to close over unhygienic conditions.

One of the largest seizures in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region took place in Bhiwandi, Thane district, where officials confiscated 11,779 litres of edible oil and 2,850 kg of tea worth ₹1.27 crore from Viraj Enterprises at Ovali village on October 16 and 17.

According to the FDA, laboratory tests on a sample sold as Jivo Pomace Olive Oil found it was entirely groundnut oil, not olive oil. Officials said the stock was seized over suspected adulteration, substandard quality and mislabelling, and further legal action was being taken.

Elsewhere, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division accounted for seizures of around 33,940 kg of food products worth Rs 87.52 lakh. In Parbhani district alone, inspectors seized 31,866 kg of edible oil and sev-farsan mixture valued at ₹81.71 lakh from four establishments. This included 22,550 kg of sev-farsan mixture worth ₹63.14 lakh from Moti Namkeen Pvt Ltd. Khoa, pedha and kalakand were also seized in Dharashiv district on suspicion of adulteration.

In Pune, 9,000 kg of paneer and 440 kg of khoa were seized from the Bavdhan, Kasba Peth and Bibwewadi areas on October 19. The FDA said the products had been transported or stored without adequate temperature control and sold in the open. Another 9,888 litres of edible oil was seized from an establishment on Paud Road.

The department reported further seizures of 1,078.40 litres of refined soybean oil and 49 kg of khoa worth about ₹2 lakh in the Nagpur division, along with 87 kg of bhagar suspected of adulteration in Ahilyanagar district.

In Jalna, officials stopped an Eicher vehicle near Chitali Putali Phata on October 18 and recovered prohibited pan masala and scented tobacco worth ₹53.25 lakh. The total seizure, including the vehicle, mobile phone and GPS device, was valued at ₹83.35 lakh.

The FDA said the banned-product seizures in Mumbai and Jalna, including vehicles and other items, were valued at ₹93.42 lakh.

The department urged consumers to report suspected food adulteration and safety violations through its toll-free helpline, 1800222365, or its online grievance portal.

Published – October 22, 2026 12:04 am IST