Food and Drug Administration seizes 19kg edible oil during raids in Thane

THANE: With the festival of lights round the corner, the Thane unit of Food and Drug Administration (FDA), decided to raid the producers and wholesalers selling loose edible oil (unpacked) to retailers. Selling of loose edible oil is prohibited under the food safety standard, fearing large-scale adulteration, especially during Diwali.
A special squad of FDA, Thane conducted simultaneous raid on violators of food safety norms on Sunday and seized a huge amount of loose oil at various places in Thane district. During the drive, FDA seized 19, 132kg including mustard, refined and groundnut oil worth Rs 19, 24, 258. As many as nine traders were trapped by the squad encompassing Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kongaon, Bhiwandi, Ambernath, Mira and Bhayndar.
"The demand for edible oil increases manifold during Diwali and suspecting a large scale adulteration we decided to raid various places. The raid was planned based on a tip-off," said S K Shere, joint commissioner of FDA (Food), Konkan Division, Thane.
Those trapped include, Sumit Enterprises, Turbhe, Gautam Enterprises, Vashi, Heena Oil depot, Ambernath, Indra Sales Agency, Kongaon, JJ Trading Company, Kongaon, Ganesh Oil depot, Bhiwandi, Sohan Traders, Bhiwandi, Amrut Oil Agency, Bhayandar and Vinayak Traders, Mira Road.
According to the rule a producer or trader is not allowed to sell loose oil to the retailer. In case the sample found to be sub-standard and unsafe for consumption after through test conducted in the laboratory the violator is liable to pay a fine upto Rs 5 lakh and imprisonment from six months to six years.
"We have sent the samples for testing and further action will be initiated once the reports come in. We will continue the raid for one more week to put an anchor on violators of food safety rule," said Shere.