Pune: Expired Bun Maska Sold At Gangadham Tea Center; FDA Imposes Rs 15,000 Fine
Pune: Expired Bun Maska Sold At Gangadham Tea Center; FDA Imposes Rs 15,000 Fine
Pune, May 22, 2026: A tea center near Gangadham Chowk in Pune has been fined Rs 15,000 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after an incident involving the alleged sale of an expired Bun Maska raised serious food safety concerns.
The incident reportedly took place on April 30 at a franchise outlet of Venkateshwara Amruttulya. According to customer Prafull Sarda, the Bun Maska served to him carried a “Best Before April 29” label, indicating that the product had expired a day earlier. Suspicious about the unusual taste, Sarda checked the packaging details and discovered the expiry issue. The fine was paid by the firm on May 7, 2026.
When the matter was brought to the attention of the outlet staff, they allegedly responded casually and assured the customer that “nothing would happen.” However, after the complaint was escalated to customer care, the franchise reportedly acknowledged the mistake.
Following the complaint and inspection, the FDA imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on the tea center for violations of food safety norms. The establishment has since paid the penalty as per FDA regulations.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns regarding hygiene and food safety practices at eateries and food outlets. It was also observed that the product packaging did not clearly mention the manufacturing date or provide detailed information about the shelf life, leading to uncertainty regarding when the Bun Maska was actually prepared.
Speaking on the matter, Prafull Sarda said the incident should serve as a lesson to vendors and food businesses that sell stale or unhealthy food products, putting consumers’ health at risk. He also called for stricter monitoring and accountability to prevent such incidents in the future.
