Pune: FDA Cracks Down On Food Safety Along Palkhi Route To Prevent Monsoon-Borne IllnessesÂ
Pune: FDA Cracks Down On Food Safety Along Palkhi Route To Prevent Monsoon-Borne IllnessesÂ
Pune | June 20, 2025: As the annual Palkhi procession begins its sacred journey, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Pune has ramped up inspections at temporary food stalls set up along the pilgrimage route and at designated halting points. The move comes amid heightened concerns over monsoon-related health risks like diarrhoea, typhoid, and food poisoning.
FDA officials have deployed two special teams—each comprising six to seven food safety officers—to monitor hygiene standards, food quality, and the use of oil and water in food preparations. “We’re conducting pre-emptive checks at food stalls to curb any potential outbreaks. Our teams are collecting samples and sending them for lab testing if needed,” said Suresh Annapure, Joint Commissioner (Food), FDA Pune region.
The inspection teams will also assess the quality of prasad (sacred offerings) distributed during the Wari. The FDA is equipped with TPC (Total Polar Compounds) meters to check if cooking oil is being reused excessively—an indicator of poor food safety.
These inspections till the Palkhis reach Indapur and Nira. Post that, regional FDA teams will take over.
In addition, as the monsoon intensifies, FDA teams will expand routine checks to include roadside stalls and eateries across Pune. The focus will be on detecting substandard food, enforcing hygiene protocols, and cracking down on adulteration.
Meanwhile, PMC has urged citizens to boil water before consumption to avoid waterborne infections. Earlier this summer, the FDA took action against several vendors after testing 50 samples from ice cream, juice, mango, and gola stalls across the city.
