Pune FDA Seizes Over 1.5 Tonnes Of Paneer From Dairies During Food Safety Crackdown
Pune FDA Seizes Over 1.5 Tonnes Of Paneer From Dairies During Food Safety Crackdown
Pune, June 4, 2026: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized large quantities of paneer and other food products worth more than ₹31 lakh during a special food safety enforcement drive conducted across the Pune division. The operation targeted suspected adulterated, substandard and prohibited food items being sold in various districts.
As part of the state’s “Safe Food, Safe Drug, Safe Maharashtra” campaign, FDA teams carried out inspections on June 1 and 2 in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Satara, Sangli, Solapur and Kolhapur. Authorities also registered criminal cases against several establishments found dealing in banned food products.
Paneer emerged as one of the major focuses of the drive. In Pimpri-Chinchwad, officials seized 647 kg of analogue cheese valued at ₹1.24 lakh from a dairy unit in Chinchwad. Another inspection led to the confiscation of 320 kg of paneer worth ₹83,050.
In Pune city, a dairy outlet in Wadgaonsheri was found storing paneer and cow ghee collectively valued at ₹11.91 lakh. Meanwhile, a dairy in Kharadi was raided, resulting in the seizure of 543 kg of paneer worth ₹1.93 lakh. Food samples collected from these establishments have been sent to laboratories for quality analysis.
The drive also uncovered suspected adulterated edible oils. At Market Yard, officials confiscated stocks of refined soybean oil and palmolein oil worth more than ₹4.34 lakh from a trading firm.
Alongside action against adulterated products, the FDA intensified its crackdown on prohibited food items, particularly flavoured and scented supari, which remains banned in Maharashtra. Raids conducted at multiple paan shops in Pune led to the seizure of banned products worth over ₹32,000 and the registration of criminal cases.
In Indapur taluka, officials seized prohibited food products worth ₹1.07 lakh and impounded a vehicle valued at ₹9.50 lakh that was allegedly being used for transportation of the banned goods. Similar enforcement actions were carried out in Satara, Sangli, Solapur and Kolhapur districts.
According to FDA officials, food products suspected to be adulterated or substandard worth more than ₹31.73 lakh and prohibited products worth ₹7.45 lakh were seized during the operation. A total of 14 establishments across the Pune division faced action.
The campaign was conducted under the guidance of Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe and supervised by Joint Commissioner (Food), Pune Division, D.V. Bhogawade. Officials said such special drives will continue to curb the sale of unsafe food products and safeguard public health.
The FDA has urged citizens to report the manufacture, storage, transportation or sale of suspicious food products through its toll-free helpline 1800-222-365 for prompt action.
