FDA raids 11 Thane farsan manufacturers, seizes food stock worth ₹20.48 lakh

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A Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) official inspects duplicate labels bearing altered ingredient information during a raid at a warehouse in Turbhe India. File | Photo Credit: Reuters

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized nearly 29 tonnes of food products and raw materials worth ₹20.48 lakh from 11 farsan and snack-manufacturing establishments in Thane after inspections allegedly found units operating without valid licences and food being prepared amid sewage, pest infestation and other severely unhygienic conditions.

The FDA has issued stop-work orders and suspended the licences or registrations of all 11 establishments located at Bhaskar Compound in the Shil-Diwa Road area of Khardi village, the regulator said in a statement on September 10.

FDA officials conducted a surprise raid on September 9 on establishments manufacturing and selling farsan, wafers, chivda, namkeen and other food products.

During the inspections, officials found stocks of potato wafers, farali chivda, spicy wafers, black pepper wafers, mixed farsan, sev, bhakarwadi, diet chivda, schezwan sticks and banana chips, along with raw materials including maida, besan, pea flour and palm oil. Used edible oil was also found at the premises.

According to the FDA, some of the establishments were operating without obtaining the mandatory valid food licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Inspectors also allegedly found production-area floors covered with accumulated oil and other residues, making them dirty and sticky, while roofs and walls in several units consisted of temporary shed sheets. Parts of the production areas were open to the external environment.

The regulator said inadequate wastewater drainage had resulted in sewage accumulating outside the establishments, causing foul and musty odours in and around the premises.

Cockroaches and rodents were allegedly found inside and around some units, while cows, dogs and cats frequently moved around immediately outside the premises. The surrounding areas were also described by the FDA as extremely dirty and unhygienic.

Workers were allegedly preparing food in dirty clothes without wearing aprons, gloves or caps. The FDA also found that labels on packaged food products did not comply with applicable labelling regulations.

The 11 establishments against which action was taken were Rajesh Lalji Gupta’s establishment, Rahul Foods, Krishna Banana Chips, Komal Wafers, Chaska Maska Foods, Om Sai Traders Farsan, Harish Chaska Food, Dharmraj Fruit Supply, Antima Farsan and Wafers, Nitya Farsan and Chakli, and Vimal Namkeen.

In all, officials seized 28,955 kg of raw materials and finished food products and 56 litres of edible oil, collectively valued at ₹20,48,801.50.

The FDA said the stock was seized under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, on suspicion of adulteration and inferior quality, as well as because the food was allegedly being produced in conditions that could make it unsafe for human consumption.