The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has dismantled a sophisticated racket in Navi Mumbai that tampered with the manufacturing and expiry dates of popular packaged foods, seizing stock worth over ₹75 lakh.
- ₹75 lakh worth of stock seized from 'Sadhna Enterprises' in Turbhe, Navi Mumbai.
- Dates on brands like Maggi, Kurkure, and Lay's were erased and reprinted.
- Chemical thinners and inkjet printers were used to extend product shelf life illegally.
- 13 exporter entities targeted; 3 found without valid FSSAI documentation.
In a high-stakes joint operation with the Central Crime Branch (CCB), the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has uncovered a fraudulent scheme designed to deceive consumers by altering the shelf-life of well-known packaged food products. The operation, which spanned six days from August 24 to 29, targeted a facility known as Sadhna Enterprises located in the TTC Industrial Area of Turbhe.
Investigators discovered that the warehouse was being used as a hub for multiple exporter companies. The modus operandi was alarmingly simple yet effective: the original Date of Manufacture and Expiry/Use By dates were chemically erased using thinner and then reprinted with extended dates using a professional inkjet printing machine.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that this breach highlights a critical vulnerability in the secondary distribution and export-import pipeline. When expired food is recirculated under the guise of fresh stock, it poses severe health risks, including foodborne illnesses and toxicity. This incident underscores the necessity for more rigorous end-to-end traceability in the FMCG sector to prevent such systemic fraud.
The seized inventory included a vast array of popular products, such as various variants of Lay's, Kurkure, Bingo, and Fun Flips, as well as Maggi masala and atta noodles. Ready-to-eat brands like Knorr soup, beverages like Thumbs Up and Limca, and Hellmann's Mayonnaise were also part of the haul.
Tampering with food labels is not just a financial crime but a direct assault on public health and safety standards.
Furthermore, the FDA alleged that the racket went beyond dates. New stickers containing altered ingredients and nutritional information were pasted over the original labels of Wagh Bakri Tea and MDH products, including Kitchen King and Deggi Mirch. While some exporters were cleared after producing valid FSSAI licenses, three entities—Unique Fragrances, Pristine Worldwide, and Vipul Doshi—failed to provide documentation and are now under scrutiny.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Stock Seized | Approx. 4,942 Cartons |
| Estimated Value | ₹75,21,269 |
| Primary Facility | Sadhna Enterprises, Turbhe |
| Legal Framework | FSS Act 2006 & Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 |
An FIR has been registered based on a complaint by Food Safety Officer Prashant Shivram Pawar. Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe emphasized that the state will maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward food quality compromises, stating that strict legal action will continue against those tampering with consumer goods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Which brands were specifically targeted in this racket?
A: The racket involved tampering with products from Maggi, Kurkure, Lay's, MDH, and Wagh Bakri Tea, among others.
Q2: What legal actions have been taken against the accused?
A: An FIR has been filed under multiple sections of the FSS Act 2006 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, focusing on cheating and forgery.
