FDA Seizes Kaju Katli at Reliance Retail Outlet in Buldhana Over Quality Concerns
Maharashtra's FDA seized 11.34 kg of Laxmi Narayan Kaju Katli from a Reliance Retail outlet in Buldhana after consumer reports of fungal growth and larvae. Samples were sent for lab testing to determine regulatory action under the Food Safety Act. This follows a broader FSSAI crackdown on hygiene violations at food manufacturing units across the state.
A Reliance Retail outlet in Buldhana, Maharashtra, is facing food safety scrutiny after inspectors recovered packaged sweets containing quality violations, prompting regulatory action by the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The inspection at the ARD Cinemall outlet followed consumer complaints regarding fungal growth and live larvae discovered in Laxmi Narayan brand Kaju Katli. Officials visited the store on August 8 to investigate the matter.
FDA Inspection and Seizure
During the inspection, officers noted that the specific batch cited in the consumer complaint - Batch No. SL-04, manufactured on May 29, 2026, and expiring on August 29, 2026 - was no longer in stock, reports NDTV Profit. Tukaram Mundhe Orders FDA Inspection of Chinese Food Stalls Across Maharashtra; Here's Why.
However, inspectors discovered another inventory of the same product, Batch No. SL-09, carrying a manufacture date of July 20, 2026, and an expiry date of October 20, 2026. Authorities collected official samples from the available stock and dispatched them to an authorised laboratory for analysis. As a precautionary measure, officials seized 54 boxes of Kaju Katli weighing a total of 11.34 kilograms, valued at INR 10,238. Subsequent regulatory proceedings under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, will depend entirely on the findings of the laboratory test reports.
Broader Crackdown on Food Safety
This regulatory action coincides with intensified nationwide oversight by food safety authorities. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently suspended the operating licenses of two manufacturing facilities in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra following routine inspections that revealed severe hygiene and sanitation violations. At Maharashtra-based Chheda Specialities Foods Pvt Ltd, inspectors reported extensive lapses, including fungal growth near edible oil storage tanks, standing wastewater on processing floors, dead houseflies, and raw materials stored on wet and dusty surfaces. FDA Suspends Licences of Punjab Grill, South India Dosa Corner, 3 Others in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai.
Additional violations included workers handling food ingredients without proper protective gear and raw food items placed near decomposing waste. Authorities have mandated that affected facilities implement comprehensive corrective measures and demonstrate full compliance with safety protocols before any regulatory restrictions are lifted.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 11, 2026 08:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
