The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday said it seized unsafe food and dairy products worth Rs 5.4 crore and suspended 404 licences during a three-month statewide enforcement drive.

The FDA inspected 9,485 establishments dealing with milk, dairy products and other food items between June and August, issued 4,321 improvement notices and took action against prohibited food products, leading to 867 arrests across the state.

According to an FDA release, Pune division recorded the highest number of inspections at 4,261, followed by Konkan with 3,142, Greater Mumbai with 1,451, Nashik with 1,356, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with 1,173, Amravati with 989 and Nagpur with 711.

The FDA did not provide a division-wise break-up specifically for milk and dairy operators, nor did it give a separate figure for arrests linked to dairy-related violations.

Since July 13, the manufacture, sale, distribution and transport of pan masala, gutkha, scented tobacco and similar products have been banned across Maharashtra.

During the enforcement drive, the FDA confiscated prohibited products worth Rs 19.62 crore from 795 establishments, filed 644 FIRs, arrested 867 people, sealed 483 establishments and seized 110 vehicles.

The total value of food stock seized during the drive stood at Rs 67.20 crore. This included milk and dairy products worth Rs 5.4 crore, other food items valued at Rs 42.17 crore and prohibited products worth Rs 19.62 crore.

Besides milk and dairy products, the FDA’s enforcement drive covered edible oils, mangoes, sweets, khoya, bakery products, candy, jaggery, ghee, dates, ice cream and kulfi, frozen desserts, spices, betel nut and toddy, among other food items.

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Published By:

India Today Web Desk

Published On:

Sep 11, 2026 21:06 IST