FDA has slapped Maganlal Chikki with a fine of ₹5L

Three different adjudications filed against the sweet makers for violating food safety norms

The state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has slapped a fine of Rs 5 lakh on Lonavala-based Maganlal Food Products, manufacturer of Maganlal Chikki, on Monday after the latter was found guilty of violating the food safety norms. The agency has initiated an adjudication against the century-old chain of sweet manufacturers for violating the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and Food Safety and Standards Rules, 2011. Earlier the maker of the traditional Indian sweet was ordered to shut down production and sale of chikkis and even issued an improvement notice. Three different adjudications were filed against the manufacturer for the alleged violations, officials said.

In December last year, the FDA had conducted a surprise visit at the famous chikki-manufacturing unit of Nangargaon, in Lonavala, only to find the makers flouting health and hygiene norms as set by the FDA. More shockingly, despite conducting business for the past 100 years, the unit was found to not get the raw materials, food products checked according to the food safety rules. Consequently, Maganlal Food Products was issued an improvement notice and even asked to halt production and sale of its famed product. Co-owner and business partner Ashok Agarwal was present when the unit was raided.

Suresh Deshmukh, joint commissioner, FDA, Pune, said, “We have fined the manufacturer to the tune of Rs 5 lakh for the three different adjudications — violations of food safety and hygiene norms, missing veg logo in advertisements and usage of synthetic colour above permissible limit in the strawberry chikki. A sum of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2.5 lakh, respectively, were levied.”

Deshmukh said, “Earlier they were asked to halt their business and given an improvement notice. Only after the criteria were met, they were allowed to commence business after 15 days. We have given them a one-month time to pay the sum towards the fine.”

Talking about the violations, Agarwal said, “We have made necessary changes and will soon pay the penalty amount. In future too, Maganlala Chikki will function as per the food safety norms.”

In December 2018, FDA officials had conducted a raid at Nangargaon unit