FDA Cracks Down on Illegal Food Businesses in Pune District, Seizes Stock Worth Over Rs 19 Lakh
Pune, 1st June 2026 : The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carried out a special enforcement drive across five locations in Ambegaon and Khed talukas of Pune district, seizing food products and raw materials worth over Rs 19 lakh. The action was undertaken under the guidance of FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, officials said on Monday.
According to D.V. Bhogawade, Assistant Commissioner (Food), Pune Division, food items worth Rs 19.03 lakh were seized during the operation for alleged violations of food safety regulations and licensing norms.
In Ambegaon taluka, inspections at two small warehouses behind Sairaj Pan and Tea House and Samiksha Cold Drink General and Kirana Store in Manchar revealed the sale of prohibited food products, including gutkha, pan masala and similar items. Authorities seized stock worth Rs 30,395 and registered a case at Manchar Police Station under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
During another inspection in Manchar, officials found that Khemraj Food Industries Private Limited was operating without the required licence or registration. Samples of maida, besan, atta and other food products were collected for analysis, and a stock weighing 19,886 kg, valued at Rs 10.49 lakh, was seized.
In Khed taluka, FDA officials inspected Ujjwal Supari at Bhamburwadi village and found that the establishment was allegedly operating without a valid licence or registration. Suspecting the stored supari to be substandard or unsafe, officials seized 1,898 kg of stock worth Rs 8.16 lakh for further examination.
At Om Sai Farsan in Nare village, inspectors allegedly found the use of artificial colouring in fried green peas. Samples of the food product and the colouring agent used were collected for testing, while 68 kg of stock worth Rs 7,480 was seized on suspicion of adulteration.
The drive was conducted by a team of Food Safety Officers including Swati Marke, Supriya Jagtap, Santosh Sawant, Satish Hake, Prakash Kachave, Laxmikant Salve, Abhijit Zodge, Aditya Joshi and Saket Suryawanshi, under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner (Food) Narayan Sarkate and Pradeep Ambare, and as per the directions of Joint Commissioner (Food) D.V. Bhogawade.
The FDA said similar drives against establishments involved in the production or sale of substandard, adulterated or illegal food products would continue. The department also appealed to citizens to share information about such activities to help safeguard public health.
