Maharashtra FDA Warns of Strict Action Over Unsafe Edible Oil
Commissioner says violations may attract life imprisonment, ₹10 lakh fine; crackdown intensified across the state
- Maharashtra FDA warns of stringent penalties for edible oil safety violations.
- Commissioner says offences may attract up to life imprisonment and ₹10 lakh fine.
- Authorities flag reuse and illegal resale of spent cooking oil.
- FDA also reviewing surrogate advertising and edible oil quality standards.
GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 20th Aug: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned of stringent legal action against those violating food safety norms, particularly in the use and sale of edible oil, with offenders facing penalties ranging from seven years’ imprisonment to life imprisonment, along with fines of up to ₹10 lakh.
Addressing reporters, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the misuse and repeated reuse of edible oil pose serious public health risks, including heart disease, impaired brain development in children and an increased risk of cancer.
“This is not just related to adulteration. Repeated frying with the same oil can lead to severe health complications. It is a matter of serious concern,” Mundhe said.
The FDA has advised consumers to avoid purchasing loose or unsealed edible oil and urged them to verify batch numbers, manufacturing dates and expiry dates before buying packaged products.
As part of an intensified enforcement drive, the department has been conducting inspections of quick-commerce companies, major grocery retailers and hotels to ensure compliance with food safety regulations.
According to the Commissioner, inspections revealed discrepancies in the disposal of spent edible oil. Some large hotels reported handing over only about 200 litres of used cooking oil for industrial purposes despite consuming more than 1,000 litres, raising concerns that the remaining oil may have re-entered the food supply chain.
Under existing regulations, edible oil can only be reused for frying within prescribed limits, after which it must be sent to authorised companies for non-food industrial uses. Mundhe alleged that in some cases the used oil was being repackaged and illegally sold back into the market for human consumption.
The Commissioner also cautioned edible oil manufacturers against making unauthorised claims regarding the presence of vitamins and minerals in their products, stating that the FDA would initiate action against misleading advertisements that violate food labelling norms.
Mundhe said Maharashtra currently has 212 centrally licensed edible oil manufacturers and 285 state-licensed operators. During the 2025–26 financial year, the FDA collected 1,247 edible oil samples, of which 1,142 were analysed. The tests identified 77 substandard samples and 15 cases of misbranding.
The Commissioner also confirmed that notices issued to actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff, along with a tobacco company, over advertisements for Vimal Elaichi are awaiting responses. The FDA has alleged that the advertisements may amount to indirect or surrogate promotion of prohibited pan masala and tobacco products.
