Tukaram Mundhe
Mumbai: On Thursday, FDA said that during their Diwali inspections held between Oct 15 and Nov 3, 3,332 establishments were inspected across the state, leading to 1,501 improvement notices, 326 licence suspensions, and 15 licence cancellations. Officials said the items during this season prone to adulteration are khava, milk, paneer, and ghee, illegal reuse of fried oil, fruits due to artificial ripening agents like calcium carbide and sweets with silver leaf which can be replaced with aluminium.
Speaking to the press, FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said, “One way to check for adulteration in edible silver is if it creates a foil when rubbed on fingertips.” The businesses covered include dairy producers, sweet shops, bakeries, street vendors, caterers, and supermarkets.
He added that there is also information that in Amravati a sweet shop claimed to sell gold-plated sweets at Rs 24,000 per kg.
If it is as claimed, it would be allowed and if it is not, then it will be suspended,” he said. “FDA has sent a team to check the samples.