The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has seized more than 74,600 kg of edible oil from 25 establishments across five districts in the Pune division during inspections ahead of the festive season, according to a report by Mid-Day citing an FDA statement. The seized stocks included soyabean, rice bran and refined bleached and deodorised palmolein oil.
The inspections were conducted on October 9 under the directions of FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe in Pune, Sangli, Solapur, Satara and Kolhapur. The department said the drive was intended to check compliance with food-safety standards and prevent the sale of substandard or unsafe edible oil during a period of increased consumer demand.
The report said inspectors found suspected quality problems, inadequate laboratory facilities, improper labelling and unhygienic packaging practices. Other alleged violations included non-functional in-house testing laboratories, missing chemists, common pipelines connecting storage tanks and the use of unsuitable containers for repackaging.
Pune recorded the largest seizure, with 34,481 kg of edible oil confiscated from eight establishments. The stock was valued at approximately Rs 58.90 lakh, according to the district-wise details in the report. At Sant Tukaram Oil Mill in Dehu, officials seized 12,518 kg of soyabean and imported RBD palmolein oil after reportedly finding a non-functional laboratory and alleged misbranding. Another 12,434 kg was seized at Laxmi Enterprises in Aale, Junnar. Further inspections were carried out in Baramati MIDC, Chakan, Mulshi and Gultekadi Market Yard.
In Kolhapur, the FDA seized 18,156 kg of edible oil from four establishments. The reported seizures included 7,998 kg of RBD palmolein oil at Raj Oil in Ichalkaranji. Officials also acted against stocks at Mathuresh Traders and Mahalaxmi Enterprises over alleged unsafe storage practices and common inlets connecting storage tanks.
Solapur accounted for 13,490 kg seized from five establishments in Akkalkot MIDC, Sangola and Madha. Inspectors reportedly found alleged mislabelling and suspected substandard soyabean and rice bran oils. Missing or improper maximum retail prices, batch numbers and use-by dates were among the deficiencies identified.
In Satara, four establishments were inspected and 5,948 kg of edible oil was seized. Raids in Karad and Patan reportedly found businesses operating without valid licences and using reused tins to package soyabean oil. Sangli recorded a seizure of 2,536 kg from four establishments, while officials directed the immediate closure of non-compliant traders in Walwa and Miraj over alleged deficiencies in laboratory facilities and purchase records.
The FDA said samples from the seized stocks had been sent to designated state laboratories for chemical analysis. Further statutory action, including penalties and prosecution, may follow depending on the laboratory findings and other enforcement procedures.
The supplied report contains a discrepancy regarding the total value of the seized oil: its opening text states approximately Rs 129 crore, while the headline and district-wise figures indicate a total of about Rs 1.28 crore. The final value should therefore be confirmed against the FDA’s statement or seizure records. The department has urged consumers to report suspected adulteration, quality concerns and other trade malpractices.
