From Bhandara To Iftaar, Maharashtra’s Festival Feasts Must Now Pass The FDA Test

Festival food in Maharashtra is about to get a lot more scrutiny. The state’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a year-round Festival Enforcement Calendar to keep a check on food safety and adulteration during festivals, fairs and large community events. Scroll on to know more about this.

Maharashtra FDA Gets Strict On Festival Feasts

According to Hindustan Times, under the new system, popular food distributions such as Bhandara, Iftaar, Langar, Mahaprasad and Annachhatra will come under the FDA’s watch. Organisers will have to inform the FDA about such events at least seven days in advance, while food must be prepared and supplied by licensed caterers.

The initiative, introduced under FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, aims to make food safety checks more systematic instead of carrying out separate drives for individual festivals. FDA teams will inspect food preparation areas, check hygiene standards and collect samples wherever required.

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Here’s All You Need To Know About This

The FDA has divided festivals into three categories based on their scale and geographical spread. Major celebrations such as Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Diwali, Eid, Christmas and New Year will be covered under statewide enforcement, while regional and local festivals will have separate levels of monitoring.

The department will also focus on foods that see a spike in demand around particular festivals. Dairy products will be checked around Janmashtami, non-vegetarian food will receive greater scrutiny around Eid, while edible oils will be monitored ahead of Diwali and Dussehra. Cakes, chocolates and cream-based products will also come under the scanner around Christmas and New Year.

The enforcement process will begin 21 days before a festival and can continue for up to 30 days afterwards. Officials will inspect manufacturing units, mills, markets, warehouses, cold storage facilities and transportation networks, along with checking food samples for possible adulteration.

For festival organisers, this means food distribution will no longer be something they can arrange at the last minute. They will need to work with licensed caterers, maintain details of ingredients and suppliers, and follow food safety norms.

Also Read: Maharashtra Government Canteens To Serve Healthier Food; Check What’s On The New Menu

The move comes ahead of the busy festival calendar in Maharashtra and is aimed at ensuring that while people enjoy their festive feasts, what lands on their plates is safe, hygienic and up to standard.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons & Rediff (representative image)