Banned Tobacco, Suspicious Snacks Seized in Mumbai; The FDA crackdown fetched ₹3.11 crore across Maharashtra

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized banned pan masala and incense worth ₹7.06 lakh in Mumbai along with food products suspected of violating safety norms in Kandivali, as part of a nationwide crackdown that yielded goods worth around ₹3.11 crore.

In a press release issued on Wednesday (October 21, 2026), the FDA said the drive led to the seizure of 32,061 liters of edible oil and 37,128 kg of other food items across Maharashtra. The department also announced action against four food establishments in Mumbai for hygiene violations.

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

Separately, FDA officials inspected two establishments in Kandivali on October 15 and seized food products worth ₹25,195. At Shree Sadguru Foods in Kandivali East, they seized spiced potato wafers, banana wafers, garlic sev, groundnut bhujia and schezwan sticks, suspected of containing colourants. At Shree Ganesh Farsan and Sweet Mart in Kandivali West, jalebi dyes and maharaja halwa worth ₹ 3,150 were seized and destroyed on the spot.

The FDA has 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 the businesses facing enforcement action. He cited unclean kitchens and waste, rusted shelving and utensils, mixing returned tile with fresh material, incomplete temperature records, missing medical clearances for workers and the use of unauthorized food coloring.

While the press release described the suspension of the licenses of the four outlets in Mumbai, it specifically stated that Bikaner Sweets and Namkin were issued closure notices due to unsanitary conditions.

One of the biggest seizures in the Mumbai metropolitan area took place in Bhiwandi in Thane district, where officials on the 16th.

According to the FDA, laboratory tests on a sample sold as Jivo Pomace Olive Oil determined that it was entirely peanut oil, not olive oil. Officials said the stock was seized on suspicion of counterfeiting, substandard quality and mislabelling, and further legal action was being taken.

Elsewhere, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division accounted for the seizure 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 worth ₹81.71 lakh from four businesses. This included 22,550 kg of sev-farsan mix worth Rs 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 Bavdhan, Kasba Peth and Bibwewadi areas on October 19. The FDA said the products were transported or stored without adequate temperature control and sold in the open. A further 9,888 liters of edible oil was seized from an establishment on Paud Road.

The department announced another seizure of 1,078.40 liters of refined soybean oil and 49 kg of khoa worth about ₹ 2 lakh in 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 banned pan masala and incense worth ₹53.25 lakh. The total seizure, including the vehicle, mobile phone and GPS device, was valued at ₹83.35 crore.

The FDA said the seizure of banned products in Mumbai and Jalna, including vehicles and other items, was valued at ₹93.42 lakh.

The ministry has urged consumers to report suspected food adulteration and safety violations through the toll-free helpline 1800222365 or its online complaint portal.

Published – 22 Oct 2026 0:04 IST