The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration seized 74,612 kg of suspected edible oil worth about Rs 1.29 crore from 25 establishments across Pune, Sangli, Solapur, Satara and Kolhapur districts during a food-safety drive conducted ahead of the festive season.
The action covered edible-oil manufacturers and sellers, with officials checking product quality, manufacturing processes, storage conditions, packaging and compliance with licensing and record-keeping requirements. The seized oil was valued at approximately Rs 1.28 crore and Rs 73,000, according to the report.
Samples of the seized oil have been sent to laboratories for testing. The FDA said further legal action would be taken after the laboratory reports are received. The seizure itself does not establish that all the products were unsafe; the final determination will depend on the test results and the findings recorded under the applicable food-safety law.
Officials reported several compliance issues at the inspected establishments. These included suspected quality problems, non-functioning in-house laboratories, the absence of chemists, the use of reused containers for filling oil, missing purchase, sale and production records, and errors in information printed on packaging.
Pune district accounted for the largest quantity seized. Action was taken at eight establishments, from which 34,481 kg of oil valued at about Rs 58.90 lakh was taken into custody. The FDA seized 2,536 kg in Sangli, 13,490 kg in Solapur, 5,948 kg in Satara and 18,156 kg in Kolhapur.
In Solapur district, 7,680 kg of soybean and rice-bran oil valued at about Rs 14.55 lakh was seized from J.D. Rathod Oil Merchant in Akkalkot. The report said officials suspected that the oil could be unsafe or incorrectly labelled, pending examination. In Kolhapur district, officials found a shared inlet arrangement for oil tanks at Mathuresh Traders and Mahalakshmi Enterprises in Uchgaon. Some establishments in Ichalkaranji were also found to have deficiencies involving laboratories, chemists and mandatory records.
The FDA directed one establishment in Sangli to stop business operations. In Satara, action was taken against an establishment found operating without a valid licence. The reported violations relate to provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, including Sections 23, 26, 27 and 31, as well as requirements under Schedule Four.
The inspections highlight the role of routine licensing, traceability and laboratory controls in regulating edible-oil supply chains, particularly when large volumes move through manufacturers, traders and retailers. For consumers, the immediate outcome remains subject to laboratory confirmation and the legal proceedings that follow.
The FDA has asked citizens to report concerns about food quality or suspected adulteration through its toll-free number, 1800222365, or the department’s complaint portal. Further action against the inspected establishments will follow after the laboratory reports are received.
