FDA seals 11 snack units on Shil-Diva Road, seizes goods worth Rs 20 lakh
Thane FDA raid finds unhygienic conditions, unlicensed units and adulteration suspicion at farsan and wafer makers on Shil-Diva Road
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Taking advantage of rising demand for food items during the festive season, some manufacturers were compromising on health standards, prompting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to carry out a major crackdown in Thane. Acting on confidential information, the FDA's Thane division raided the Bhaskar Compound area at Khadi Gaon on Shil-Diva Road on September 9, 2026. Eleven establishments making or selling farsan, wafers, chivda, namkeen and other food items were inspected.
During the raid, potato wafers, falahari chivda, spicy wafers, black pepper wafers, mixed farsan, sev, bhakarwadi, chivda, diet chivda, Schezwan sticks and banana chips were found at these establishments. Maida, besan, pea flour, palmolein oil and used cooking oil meant for production were also found stored there.
The inspection led to the seizure of 28,955 kg and 56 litres of goods, valued by the FDA at Rs 20,48,801.50. The entire stock was seized under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, on suspicion of adulteration or poor quality, and because it was being produced in extremely unhygienic and unsafe conditions.
The FDA's inspection uncovered several serious lapses. Some establishments did not hold a valid food licence. Floors in the production areas were dirty and sticky, with accumulated oil and other waste contaminating the surroundings. In some places, the roof and walls were temporary tin sheds, and parts of the production area were exposed to the open. Poor drainage of wastewater caused a foul smell outside the establishments. Cockroach and rat infestations were found at some locations, along with cows, dogs and cats moving around outside.
Labelling norms for packaged food items were also not being followed. Some workers preparing food were doing so in dirty clothes without aprons, gloves or caps. Taking these lapses seriously, the FDA suspended the licence or registration of the 11 establishments, halting their operations.
The action was not limited to Shil-Diva Road. Inspections at establishments in Mumbai, including Shri Gajanan Vadapav-Snacks Center, Samarth Sweets, Ekvira Jhunka Bhakar Kendra, Manisha Sweets, Nawab Seekh Corner, Hotel Adin and Jai Maharashtra Masala Dosa Corner, also found several hygiene and food safety lapses. Action was also taken against Hotel Shahi, Saber Restaurant and Sairat Biryani in the Pune division. A re-inspection of Shelke Mama Dhaba restaurant in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar found the same lapses persisting, and further action is underway there.
The FDA said that for festivals, religious events, travel, urus fairs and similar occasions, if food for mahaprasad, annachhatra, langar, bhandara or any communal food distribution is being prepared and distributed through a licensed or registered caterer or kitchen, prior notice must be given at least seven days before the event. A form for this, called the "Samuhik Annavatap Purvasuchana Namuna", is available on the Food and Drug Grievance Portal.
Citizens can lodge complaints about food quality or any irregularities on the toll-free number 1800222365. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe warned that strict legal action will continue against those found compromising public health.
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