The Food and Drug Administration seized 74,612 kilograms of suspected edible oil worth approximately Rs 1.2873 crore from 25 manufacturers and sellers across Pune, Sangli, Solapur, Satara and Kolhapur districts during a coordinated inspection drive ahead of the festive season.
The action was carried out on Friday to check whether edible oil businesses were complying with requirements covering product quality, manufacturing processes, storage and packaging. The administration said it found suspected quality issues and violations related to the production and sale of edible oil at several establishments.
Samples of the seized oil have been sent to laboratories for testing. Further legal action will be taken after the laboratory reports are received, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The seizure itself does not establish that all the products were unsafe, as their compliance and safety status will depend on the test results and subsequent proceedings.
Inspectors also reported several operational and documentation gaps. These included non-functioning internal laboratories, the absence of chemists, the use of reused containers for filling oil, missing purchase, sales and production records, and errors in information printed on packaging.
Pune district accounted for the largest quantity seized. Action was taken against eight establishments and 34,481 kg of oil valued at approximately Rs 58.90 lakh was confiscated. The administration seized 18,156 kg in Kolhapur, 13,490 kg in Solapur, 5,948 kg in Satara and 2,536 kg in Sangli.
In Solapur district, 7,680 kg of soybean and rice-bran oil valued at around Rs 14.55 lakh was seized from J D Rathod Oil Merchant in Akkalkot. The administration said the oil was suspected to be of questionable quality and could involve safety or incorrect-labelling concerns.
In Kolhapur district, inspectors found a shared inlet arrangement for oil tanks at Mathuresh Traders and Mahalaxmi Enterprises in Uchgaon. Some establishments in Ichalkaranji were found to have deficiencies involving laboratories, chemists and mandatory records. In Sangli, one establishment was directed to stop business operations. In Satara, action was taken against an establishment found operating without a valid licence.
The administration said the inspections revealed possible violations under Sections 23, 26, 27 and 31 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with provisions of Schedule 4. Consumers can report complaints about the quality or suspected adulteration of food products through the FDA toll-free number 1800222365 or its complaint portal. The next stage of the matter will depend on the laboratory findings and the legal action initiated against the concerned establishments.
