Maharashtra FDA issues order to curb sale, repackaging of expired food items

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. File

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a separate order for Maharashtra to curb the selling and repackaging of expired and spoiled food items, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday (October 30, 2026), Mr. Mundhe said that instead of destroying stale and expired food items properly, they are being “disposed of only on paper.” These goods are brought back after being repacked by some agents and then sold to citizens. In some cases, even the production dates are being manipulated.

As per the new order, the concerned company will have to provide proof of proper disposal of expired, spoiled, or returned food items. Businesses are also required to obtain a certificate of destruction for food items from disposal companies registered with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board.

The department has been undertaking operations across the State in the last few days. Two cases have been registered, and adulterated food worth ₹5 crore has been seized.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Bhiwandi, the FDA has been cracking down on illegal activities, during which stocks worth ₹80,000 and ₹26 lakh were seized from Gulzar Nagar. Crackdowns also took place in the Vadpe region, Padgha and Ambarnath. Licences of the concerned people carrying out illegal activities have been suspended.

So far, a total of ten such operations have been carried out, where a total of 32 people, including company owners, were accused.

22 compliance orders have been issued for various sectors, in order to clarify the rules that need to be followed for various businesses such as hotels, milk and dairy products, edible oils, and school nutrition.

food safety / food / Maharashtra / Mumbai