Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Thursday, 20 August warned that strict action will be taken against traders selling loose, unpackaged cooking oil across Maharashtra, citing rampant violations of food safety norms. The warning came at a press conference in Mumbai and marks the latest phase of the statewide 'Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra' campaign.

What the Crackdown Covers

Mundhe announced that compliance orders targeting the cooking oil trade are being issued with immediate effect. The move follows earlier orders directed at hotels, restaurants, milk product suppliers, and schools — all of which are currently under implementation. Cooking oil, he noted, is a daily household essential and therefore a priority for consumer safety enforcement.

Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2011, all edible oil producers and distributors are legally required to hold valid licences or registrations and to comply with statutory packaging and labelling standards. Selling oil in loose, unpackaged form violates these provisions.

Key Violations Uncovered in Inspections

Recent inspections of packaging, labelling, and brand manufacturing establishments revealed between 8 and 10 significant violations. Among the most serious findings were oil being sold without packaging dates or source labels, expired oil being repackaged for resale, and oil stored in rusted tins — all posing direct health risks to consumers.

Inspectors also uncovered cases of adulteration and unauthorised blending, including the mixing of other oils into mustard oil. Mundhe clarified that while pure mustard oil may be sold as such, blended or unauthorised mixtures containing mustard oil are strictly prohibited under existing food safety law.

Penalties for Violations

Anyone found adulterating cooking oil or breaching packaging and labelling standards faces a fine of up to ₹10 lakh and imprisonment of up to three years, the FDA Commissioner stated. Mundhe underscored that legal action will be initiated immediately upon detection of any such violation anywhere in the state.

Broader Context

The Maharashtra FDA's escalating enforcement drive reflects a growing national concern over food adulteration. This is not the first time loose edible oil has drawn regulatory scrutiny — the practice has persisted in unorganised retail segments despite existing legal prohibitions. Notably, this crackdown comes ahead of the festive season, when cooking oil consumption and the risk of adulterated supplies both typically rise. The FDA's phased compliance approach — moving from hospitality and dairy to edible oils — suggests a systematic, sector-by-sector enforcement strategy rather than a one-off drive.

With compliance orders now in force, traders across Maharashtra's wholesale and retail oil markets face heightened inspection risk in the weeks ahead.