Maharashtra FDA Launches Statewide Inspections in Sweet Shops to Curb Food Adulteration Before Diwali

Ahead of Diwali 2025, the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has rolled out a large-scale food safety inspection campaign across the state to prevent adulteration in festive food items. The initiative, titled “Festival of Maharashtra – Commitment to Food Safety”, aims to ensure that citizens enjoy a safe and healthy festive season.

Over 1,500 Sweet Shops Inspected Across Maharashtra

The FDA has conducted surprise checks at 1,594 sweet shops statewide and collected 2,369 samples of various food products for laboratory testing. These inspections cover popular festive foods such as milk, khoya, ghee, edible oils, sweets, dry fruits, and chocolates — items that often see increased demand during Diwali.

According to Minister Narhari Zirwal, 554 sample reports have been analyzed so far. Of these, 513 were declared safe, 26 were found substandard, four had labeling issues, and 11 were deemed unsafe for consumption. The remaining 1,815 reports are still pending laboratory results.

Statewide Food Adulteration Drive Expands to Milk and Dairy Products

Minister Zirwal also announced that the milk adulteration inspection drive will be intensified in the coming weeks. “The goal is to safeguard consumers from any form of food fraud and ensure complete transparency in the festive food supply chain,” he stated.

The government has also warned that food sellers and traders who fail to pass on GST benefits to customers will face strict regulatory action. This move reinforces the administration’s focus on consumer rights and fair pricing during the festive period.

Strengthening Food Testing Infrastructure

To enhance testing capacity, the Maharashtra FDA has completed recruitment for over 200 Assistant Commissioners (Food) and Food Safety Officers, posts that had been vacant since 2022. Additionally, a proposal for 750 new posts has been submitted to the Finance Department for approval.

The state government has also prioritized laboratory modernization, with upgraded testing facilities in Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Pune set to open soon. To support this initiative, Rs 200 crore in funding has been sanctioned by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, alongside 250 new laboratory positions to improve testing turnaround time and accuracy.

Ensuring Safe Sweets and Festive Foods

With Diwali approaching, the FDA’s intensified inspections aim to detect food adulteration, mislabeling, and substandard ingredients commonly found in sweets and dairy products during festive demand surges.
Consumers are being urged to buy sweets from licensed shops, check expiry dates, and avoid unhygienic packaging.

The Maharashtra FDA’s food safety campaign underscores the state’s proactive stance against adulteration during Diwali. By expanding inspections, strengthening laboratories, and deploying new officers, the government aims to ensure that every festive sweet consumed this season is safe, pure, and of the highest quality.

FAQs

1. Why is the Maharashtra FDA conducting inspections before Diwali?
The FDA launched inspections to prevent food adulteration during the festive season when demand for sweets, ghee, and dairy products is at its peak.

2. How many food samples have been tested so far?
Out of 2,369 collected samples, 554 have been tested — 513 were safe, while 11 were found unsafe for consumption.

3. What products are being tested under the campaign?
The campaign covers sweets, milk, khoya, ghee, edible oils, dry fruits, and chocolates sold across Maharashtra.

4. What actions will be taken against violators?
Shops selling adulterated or mislabeled food will face legal and regulatory penalties under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

5. How is the FDA improving food testing capacity?
The state is recruiting additional food safety officers, upgrading laboratories in key cities, and allocating ₹200 crore for lab infrastructure expansion.