Maharashtra FDA Issues Year-Round Standing Order to Curb Festival Food Adulteration: Tukaram Mundhe
The new system adds risk-based inspections, laboratory testing and consumer complaint channels to curb adulteration during major festivals, officials said.
- On Thursday, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration launched a permanent, year-round food safety calendar covering all major festivals. The initiative replaces temporary, festival-specific enforcement with a unified, predictable system.
- Addressing rising demand for food items during celebrations, Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe explained the system aims to prevent quality deterioration and adulteration of sweets, dairy products, and edible oils.
- Officials will employ a four-stage enforcement process for festivals categorized into three levels based on risk. Inspections and laboratory testing extend up to 30 days after each festival.
- Food businesses must now display licence details and QR codes prominently. Establishments with 25 or more food handlers must employ a supervisor with FoSTaC certification.
- Terming the decision a landmark, Commissioner Mundhe noted this is India's first uniform, 12-month food safety calendar. The FDA stated, "The objective is to protect consumers while ensuring that food businesses are not subjected to unnecessary disruption.
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Tukaram Mundhe crackdown | Who will FDA target next? Maharashtra food safety body rolls out calendar for festivals
The standing order divides festivals into three tiers based on their scale and geographical spread and lists, in advance, the foods to be checked, likely adulterants, sampling plans and enforcement action.
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Maharashtra FDA issues year-round standing order to curb festival food adulteration: Tukaram Mundhe
Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Thursday said that a comprehensive, standing order aimed at curbing food adulteration during upcoming religious and cultural festivals across India.
Iftaar to langar to marriage: FDA nod now must in Maharashtra
Maharashtra FDA now requires prior permission for organizing religious and social food events. Organizers must provide caterer and ingredient details to the local FDA office. Food distribution will only be permitted through licensed caterers for public safety. A year-round action plan targets food preparation and distribution during major festivals. Inspectors will check for violations and recommend prosecution for offenders within fourteen days.
Maha FDA unveils permanent food safety calendar for festivals
Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a permanent, year-round food safety calendar to ensure public health during major festivals. This first-of-its-kind initiative categorises festivals into three levels and implements a four-stage inspection mechanism, focusing on preventing adulteration and unsafe food practices for high-demand products like sweets, dairy, and edible oils.
From Eid to Diwali, Maharashtra FDA, led by Tukaram Munde, announces year-round rules for festivals
Now, a uniform procedure has now been issued for every festival, from Eid to Diwali. Tukaram Munde, Commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, stated that this is the first such order in India, requiring action throughout the year.
Mumbai: Strict rules have now been implemented in Maharashtra for Mahaprasad, Bhandara, Langar, Annachhatra and Iftar programs organized during the period of Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Diwali, Ramadan and Eid, starting from weddings. To ensure that citizens get safe and quality food and prevent food poisoning, the Food and Drug Administration has permanently implemented the ‘Festival Implementation Guidelines’ for the first time. […] The origin…
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