Food businesses across Maharashtra are facing heightened scrutiny as the state's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implements a comprehensive new 'Festival Enforcement Calendar'. Under the leadership of Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the FDA is significantly stepping up its inspections and enforcement actions to combat food adulteration during festive seasons, fairs, and religious events.
The new standing order mandates that enforcement activities will commence 21 days prior to any festival and extend for up to 30 days post-celebration. This proactive approach marks a first for food safety initiatives in India, according to Commissioner Mundhe, who emphasized that the program is strictly focused on food safety and not linked to any specific community or religious practice.
How the Enforcement Calendar Works
The FDA has categorized festivals into three tiers: statewide, regional, and local, to tailor its enforcement strategy effectively. Preparations involve identifying risk areas, gathering intelligence, forming dedicated inspection squads, and ensuring adequate availability of testing kits, reagents, and laboratory capacity.
Fourteen days before a festival, inspections will focus on manufacturing units, mills, markets, cold storage facilities, godowns, and wholesale markets. This includes rigorous checks on food transportation, particularly during late-night and early-morning hours. During the festivals, teams will conduct active market surveillance, on-the-spot inspections, and immediate testing. Post-festival, follow-up actions will include processing laboratory reports, initiating prosecutions, and overseeing the proper disposal of seized substandard food.
High-Risk Food Categories Under Scrutiny
The FDA has identified eleven high-risk food categories that will receive enhanced attention. These include:
- Milk and dairy products
- Meat
- Sweets
- Fasting foods (e.g., bhagar, kuttu, singhada flour, sago, rajgira)
- Edible oils
- Fruits
- Dry fruits
- Gram flour
- Water and ice
- Bakery products
- E-commerce food products
- Imported foods
Specific checks will target mycotoxins in fasting foods, with early-morning inspections for milk suppliers. Meat outlets, cold chains, and slaughterhouses will face heightened scrutiny, especially during occasions like Eid. Frying oil will be tested for Total Polar Compounds (TPC), with oil exceeding 25% TPC slated for destruction. Sweet shops will be checked for unauthorized colors and adulterated silver leaf. Using newspapers or other printed paper for food wrapping will also lead to enforcement action.
Furthermore, bakeries, restaurants, and quick-commerce warehouses are subject to inspection. Food served at large community gatherings such as mahaprasad, iftar, annachhatra, langar, and bhandara will also be under surveillance, with organizers advised to use licensed caterers and inform the FDA in advance.
Intensified Enforcement Drive
The new calendar builds upon a significant increase in FDA enforcement activities since Commissioner Mundhe took charge in May. Between June and August 2026, the FDA collected 37,604 food samples, testing 32,604 of them. A concerning 15,268 samples, or approximately 47%, failed to meet prescribed standards, with 15,160 identified as substandard. This period saw a 340% rise in monthly food sample collection and a 435% increase in testing compared to the 2025-26 period, demonstrating the intensified focus on food safety across Maharashtra.