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Maharashtra Assembly admits action against substandard food in Maharashtra is inadequate !

  • Demand rose for government restrictions on street food vendors

  • Shortage of manpower and laboratories acknowledged

  • Draft of a law stricter than the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) prepared

Mumbai, 12 March – A meeting will be held regarding adulterated dairy products such as paneer, mawa and khoya, as well as colours used in food items, and definite action will be taken in this regard. The Food and Drug Administration department is facing a shortage of employees, and the condition of the laboratories is poor. To manage regulatory work in Pune, Nagpur and Nashik districts, 197 employees have been recruited. The results of this will be visible within three months. Food stalls selling Chinese food outside schools will also be inspected, said Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. He was replying to supplementary questions on a starred question raised by BJP MLA Sunil Kamble regarding action taken by the Food and Drug Administration in Pune city.

Points raised by various members regarding substandard food

Adulteration is occurring in milk products, and this has increased the incidence of cancer, said Sunil Kamble, questioning why inspections by the Food and Drug Administration are not carried out regularly. He alleged that raids are conducted mainly during festivals and that it remains unclear what action follows. BJP MLA Siddharth Shirole said that substandard oil and spices are widely used. Congress MLA Vikas Thakre stated that in Nagpur, many people sell food on the streets even while obtaining licences. BJP MLA Manisha Chaudhary asked whether action would be taken against sweets prepared in slum areas on Madena Road in South Mumbai. Concerns were also raised that Chinese food carts near schools sell items containing low-quality Ajinomoto. BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar asked what type of water is used in street food preparation and who grants licences to such vendors. He also questioned whether the Food and Drug Administration’s staffing structure would be aligned with population or revenue levels, whether a toll-free number would be provided in every district, and whether inspections would be increased.

₹75 lakh fine imposed on 840 establishments

BJP MLA Suresh Dhas said that several provisions introduced in the Food and Drug Administration law between 2005 and 2011 weakened the legislation and that accused persons secure bail within two to three days, leaving offenders with little fear of the law.

Responding to this, Narhari Zirwal said that 12,693 inspections were carried out, 5,776 establishments were issued improvement notices and the licences of 167 operators were cancelled. Settlements were reached with 840 establishments, and fines amounting to ₹75,34,400 were collected.

Action taken at various locations

According to a written reply, action was taken against 664 soft drink establishments in Pune between April 2025 and January 2026. Improvement notices were issued to 396 establishments, and 53 establishments settled their cases by paying fines. Of the 663 samples collected, 52 were substandard, 23 were misbranded, and 31 were unsafe. Action is being taken against them under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

It was also stated that in Pune, only 30 food vendors were inspected and 50 samples were collected. The licence of Goodluck Café was temporarily suspended after glass pieces were allegedly found in the bun maska served there. However, no action was reportedly taken against a hotel in the Camp area where a cockroach was found in vegetable soup.

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