Parliament Question: Cases of Food Adulteration in Maharashtra

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3418 TOBE ANSWERED ON07th AUGUST,2026 CASES OFFOOD ADULTERATION IN MAHARASHTRA †3418. DR. SHIVAJIBANDAPPAKALGE: SHRINILESH DNYANDEVLANKE: Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether the Government is aware that, despite the efforts of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), cases of food adulteration are not decreasing in the Stateof Maharashtra, if so,the detailsthereofandif not,the reasons therefor; (b) whether there has been a massive increase in processing of artificially ripening of fruits and vegetables using chemical substances, which cause serious harm to the health of public, if so, the detailsthereof; (c) the methodology, systems and detection methods being adopted by the Government to control thisillegal anddangerousactivity;and (d) the number of cases of such artificial ripening activitiesthat have come tolight during the last five yearsalongwith the actiontakenbythe Government thereon,year-wise? ANSWER THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) to (d): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. The implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006isa shared responsibility between the Central andStateGovernments. Details of enforcement action taken against all non-conforming food products (includingadulteration) inMaharashtra during the last three yearsare asfollows:-No. of No. of Samples Civil Cases CriminalCases S. Year Samples foundNon- Decidedwith No. No.of Convictions Analysed Conforming Penalty 1 2025-26* 7694 1335 2445 8 2 2024-25 5403 1250 1147 0 3 2023-24 5087 1174 154 0 *Data isprovisional. Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions On Sales) Regulations, 2011 prohibits the use of carbide gas in ripening of fruits by mandating that “No person shall sell or offer or expose for sale or have in his premises for the purpose of sale under any description, fruits which have been artificially ripened by use of acetylene gas, commonly known as carbide gas; provided that fruits may be artificially ripened by use of Ethylene gas at a concentration upto 100 ppm (100µl/L) depending upon the crop, variety and maturity”. Sub regulation 2.3.6 of the same regulations provides for Sale of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables which states that “The Fresh Fruits and Vegetables shall be free from rotting and free from coating of waxes, mineral oil and colours. Provided that fresh fruits may be coated with bees wax (white and yellow) or carnauba wax or shellac wax at level not exceeding Good Manufacturing Practices underproper label declaration as provided in Regulation2.4.5 (44) of FoodSafety and Standards (PackagingandLabelling) regulations,2011.” Further, the FSSAI has published manuals on Methods of Analysis of various food commodities including Fruit and Vegetable Products, which serves as a comprehensive guide for the testing andanalysis of fruits and vegetablesproducts. Since, 98% of the food businesses are under the regulatory control of the State Food Safety Authorities, vide the advisories dated 03rd April 2023, 21st November 2023, 16th May 2025 and 16th April 2026, Food Safety Commissioners of all the States/UTs have been directed to intensify inspections and maintain strict vigilance over fruit markets/mandis within their respective jurisdiction. States/UTs undertake Special Enforcement Drives to ensure strict monitoring of the sale of fresh fruits to prevent the use of unauthorized or prohibitedartificial ripeningagents, synthetic colours, andnon-permittedwax coatings. Detailsof inspections, seizure/destruction made against artificiallyripenedfruit across the countryincludingMaharashtra during years2020-21 to2024-25 are asunder: - Inspections conductedover Non-conforming thepastfive samples(found yearsto detect Samples Seizures/destructions Year artificiallyripened theuse of analysed made(inkgs) with non-permitted artificial agents) ripening agents infruits 2020-21 10032 479 10 5037.62021-22 11217 352 31 8428.6 2022-23 14185 704 9 10182 2023-24 17180 1450 45 19582.2 2024-25 20365 1953 54 42395.46 *****