25% adulteration found in milk collected in Western Maharashtra !

Food and Drug Administration Minister acknowledges it in the Assembly !
Delay in enforcement across the State comes to light !

Mumbai, July 10 (News) – Following the enforcement drive launched by Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, there has been a significant decline in the quantity of milk collected in Western Maharashtra. Seeking details of the reduction, BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar asked the Government in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly how much the milk collection had actually declined.

Responding to the query, Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal informed the House that the quantity of milk collected in Western Maharashtra had declined by 20–25% following the enforcement drive. This revealed that up to 25% of the milk collected in the region had been adulterated and that the adulteration stopped after the crackdown.

25% of milk in Western Maharashtra is adulterated, admits FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal in the Legislative Assembly.

With delays in state action coming to light, the government talks tough on food fraud; warning that ghee adulteration could now lead to a ₹1 Lakh fine or even the… pic.twitter.com/RFJQAkTeeg

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) July 10, 2026

Minister Zirwal also acknowledged that although stringent laws exist against food adulteration, there is a delay in taking action.

Padalkar further asked whether criminal cases had been registered against the owners of milk unions involved in milk adulteration. Zirwal replied that such cases had indeed been registered.

The discussion arose during a starred question raised by NCP MLA Prakash Solanke regarding the action taken after adulterated ghee was found during a raid on Mundada Industries, a ghee manufacturing unit in Jalna. During the discussion, Shiv Sena MLA Arjun Khotkar also recalled that adulteration had earlier been detected at Mundada Industries.

Adulteration is destroying the lives of crores of people in the State! – BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar

Padalkar said, “If a maize crop is treated with urea but not watered, it gets scorched within two days. Similarly, adulterators are using urea to adulterate milk, thereby destroying the lives of crores of people in Maharashtra. Children are being fed poison through adulterated milk. The Government must take stringent action against those responsible.”

If adulteration in ghee is proved, the punishment ranges from a ₹1 lakh fine to the death penalty! – Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal

Minister Zirwal informed the House that eight samples of ghee collected from Mundada Industries had been sent for laboratory analysis. Six of the samples were found to be substandard. However, these samples have been sent for re-examination, and the report is expected on July 23. Action will be taken thereafter.

He further said that under the law against food adulteration, the punishment ranges from a fine of ₹1 lakh to the death penalty. Action will be taken against the concerned owner accordingly.

During the discussion, MLA Kishor Patil stated that Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe’s enforcement drive had considerably improved the situation and urged the Government not to transfer him for at least the next three years. Minister Zirwal replied that this would not happen.

Fly found in the food served at the Congress party office!

During the Assembly session, a fly was found in the food served at the Congress party office. Raising the issue in the House, Congress MLA Vikas Thakre questioned whether the food served in the Legislature complex was safe.