Palghar, Maharashtra: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Palghar district has taken action against food safety violations in the Vasai-Virar area, following numerous complaints about hygiene standards. The FDA's recent crackdown involved inspecting 183 establishments, including hotels, restaurants, and food stalls. During the inspections, 154 food samples were collected for testing.
According to P.R. Singerwad, Assistant Commissioner and Designated Officer of the Palghar FDA, 14 of the samples were found to be substandard or non-compliant with the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 and its 2011 regulations. In response, the FDA has registered 14 cases against the violating establishments.
The FDA's actions included issuing notices to 124 establishments, filing seven legal cases, and imposing fines totaling Rs. 25,000 in five of those cases. Additionally, licenses were suspended for five establishments due to the severity of the violations.
The inspections were prompted by a formal complaint lodged on April 11, 2025, by Kishor Nana Patil of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Consumer Protection Cell, who raised concerns about widespread food adulteration. The FDA provided a detailed report on its actions on April 28.
Vasai-Virar has experienced rapid growth in its food service sector, leading to increased concerns among residents about food safety and hygiene. Complaints have been on the rise regarding the sale of adulterated food, unsanitary kitchen conditions, and establishments operating without valid FDA licenses.
Consumer rights groups, including Patil's organization, have called for consistent and stringent regulatory measures. Patil emphasized the importance of regular inspections to protect public health and ensure accountability among food and medicine vendors. The FDA has stated that it will continue to conduct inspections and pursue legal action as necessary to maintain food safety standards in the region.
