FDA Suspends Karachi Sweet Mart Licence, Nine Other Establishments Face Action

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pune division has taken action against Karachi Sweet Mart's main manufacturing centre in Pune's Camp area and nine other food establishments in Pune district. Following inspections, the FDA found significant food safety violations. Karachi Sweet Mart was raided on Tuesday, where officials discovered the use of synthetic food colours without proper record-keeping, expired ingredients including chocolate sticks, and a breach of traceability, storage, temperature control, and handling of khoa as per FSSAI guidelines.

Shrikant Karkale, Joint Commissioner, FDA (Food), Pune division, highlighted these issues. Food safety officer S S Hake, under the direction of Assistant Commissioner (Food) N R Sarkate, also identified expired ingredients like chocosticks. Samples of motichoor ladoo, khoya, and malai peda were collected for laboratory testing. Seized food products amounted to 186 kg, valued at Rs 90,780, while perishable items were destroyed.

Licences of nine other establishments, including Ganesh Ladwale, Rajmilan Sweets, and Puneri Sweets, have been suspended. In total, stocks valued at Rs 16.93 lakh were suspended, and three food establishments were ordered to cease operations immediately.