FDA suspends licenses of 11 Thane farsan makers after unhygienic conditions raid

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

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the licences or registrations of 11 farsan and snack-manufacturing establishments in Thane and issued stop-work orders after a surprise raid uncovered severely unhygienic production conditions, including sewage accumulation, pest infestation and units operating without valid licences.

Nearly 29 tonnes of food products seized

Officials seized nearly 29 tonnes of food products and raw materials collectively valued at ₹20.48 lakh during inspections at establishments located at Bhaskar Compound in the Shil-Diwa Road area of Khardi village. The regulator conducted the surprise raid on September 9 on establishments manufacturing and selling farsan, wafers, chivda, namkeen and other food products.

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.

Production amid sewage and pest infestation

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 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.

Eleven establishments face action

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. The FDA issued stop-work orders and suspended the licences or registrations of all 11 establishments, the regulator said in a statement on September 10.

The Thane raid formed part of a wider FDA enforcement drive against food establishments across Maharashtra. Separately, the regulator said licences or registrations of 10 establishments were suspended: six in Mumbai, one in the Konkan division, two in the Pune division and one in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division.

Widespread violations found in Mumbai units

In Mumbai, inspections found a range of alleged violations involving sanitation, pest control, storage and food-handling practices. At Shri Gajanan Vadapav Snacks Center in Kanjurmarg West, inspected on September 8, the FDA alleged that temperature monitoring was not being carried out regularly despite heating, cooling and refrigeration facilities being available. It also found inadequate pest-proofing and said vadapav was being prepared in an open kitchen without a door. Some equipment and containers were also allegedly made of materials unsuitable for food contact.

At Samarth Sweets in Jogeshwari East, which was inspected following a complaint, officials found open drains and garbage near the entrance. The FDA said the production area lacked a proper linear workflow separating raw materials, processing and packing, creating a risk of cross-contamination. Clothes, bedding and personal belongings were also allegedly stored inside the production area.

At Ekvira Zunka Bhakar Kendra in Mulund East, officials allegedly found an extremely cramped workspace, inadequate ventilation, open garbage bins and a food-preparation area exposed to the outside environment. Separate storage arrangements for food and non-food items were also lacking. Manisha Sweets, also in Mulund East, was found operating a production unit in what the FDA described as an open and unhygienic space at the rear of the premises.

The ceiling allegedly had accumulated layers of oil and soot, ventilation was inadequate, and the production area was insufficiently protected from pest entry. At Nawab Seekh Corner, inspectors allegedly found ants in stored semolina, uncovered raw meat, improper segregation of raw, cooked and ready-to-eat food, openly stored mint and other ingredients, and dirty and disorganised refrigerators and food-storage areas.

The FDA also cited inadequate cleaning and sanitisation of equipment and ineffective implementation of first-in-first-out and first-expiry-first-out systems. At Hotel Ashwin, inspected on September 9, officials cited deficiencies in food storage and refrigeration, dirty and damaged floors and walls, inadequate ventilation and insufficient pest-proofing.

The FDA also cited poor cleaning and sanitisation, accumulated food waste and garbage, pest activity and inadequate pest-control records at Jay Maharashtra Masala Dosa Corner.

Action taken across Maharashtra

Elsewhere in the State, the regulator also took action against establishments including Hotel Shahi near Karad, Saber Restaurant in Lonavala and Sairat Biryani in Pune's Koregaon Park for alleged violations of licence conditions and hygiene requirements.

At Shelke Mama Dhaba Restaurant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the FDA said deficiencies identified during an earlier inspection remained unaddressed when officials conducted a re-inspection on September 8. The restaurant was first inspected on July 27 and issued an improvement notice on July 30. The FDA said it was initiating further action under the Food Safety and Standards Act after the shortcomings remained during the latest inspection.

Pre-festive enforcement and new requirements

The enforcement action comes ahead of the festive season, during which the FDA has also introduced advance-intimation requirements for large-scale food distribution events. Organisers of events involving mahaprasad, annachhatra, langar, bhandara and similar mass food distribution during festivals, religious gatherings, fairs and urs have been asked to submit the "Mass Food Distribution Advance Notice Form" at least seven days before the event when food is prepared or distributed through licensed or registered caterers or kitchens.

The FDA said food operators at such events must ensure cleanliness, safe water supply, proper temperature control, separation of raw and cooked food, personal hygiene among food handlers and safe food storage. Based on the advance notices, officials will undertake risk-based inspections, collect samples and initiate immediate enforcement action where required.

Source: The Hindu