Maharashtra FDA Issues Year-Round Standing Order to Curb Festival Food Adulteration: Tukaram Mundhe

Tukaram Mundhe crackdown | Who will FDA target next? Maharashtra food safety body rolls out calendar for festivals

The standing order divides festivals into three tiers based on their scale and geographical spread and lists, in advance, the foods to be checked, likely adulterants, sampling plans and enforcement action.

Maharashtra FDA issues year-round standing order to curb festival food adulteration: Tukaram Mundhe

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Thursday said that a comprehensive, standing order aimed at curbing food adulteration during upcoming religious and cultural festivals across India.

Iftaar to langar to marriage: FDA nod now must in Maharashtra

Maharashtra FDA now requires prior permission for organizing religious and social food events. Organizers must provide caterer and ingredient details to the local FDA office. Food distribution will only be permitted through licensed caterers for public safety. A year-round action plan targets food preparation and distribution during major festivals. Inspectors will check for violations and recommend prosecution for offenders within fourteen days.

Maha FDA unveils permanent food safety calendar for festivals

Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a permanent, year-round food safety calendar to ensure public health during major festivals. This first-of-its-kind initiative categorises festivals into three levels and implements a four-stage inspection mechanism, focusing on preventing adulteration and unsafe food practices for high-demand products like sweets, dairy, and edible oils.

From Eid to Diwali, Maharashtra FDA, led by Tukaram Munde, announces year-round rules for festivals

Now, a uniform procedure has now been issued for every festival, from Eid to Diwali. Tukaram Munde, Commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, stated that this is the first such order in India, requiring action throughout the year.

Mahaprasad, Bhandara Organisers Must Follow FDA Rules; Know What’s Mandatory - PUNE PULSE

Mumbai, September 4, 2026: Ahead of the upcoming festival season, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a year-long Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate food safety during large-scale food distribution programmes, including mahaprasad, iftar meals, annachhatra, langar, bhandara and other religious and festival events. Under the new guidelines, organisers will have to inform the FDA at