The regulator will scrutinise loose oil sales, traceability and repeated reuse of cooking oil, with serious violations also attracting life imprisonment
Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to intensify scrutiny of edible oil under its ‘Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra’ campaign, with the regulator focusing on manufacturing, licensing, packaging, distribution, retail sale and the repeated reuse of cooking oil.
Tukaram Mundhe, Commissioner, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, said edible oil would be the next major focus of the campaign, with the FDA seeking to address violations across the supply chain.
The move is expected to bring manufacturers, distributors, retailers and food establishments under closer scrutiny as the FDA seeks compliance with food-safety regulations prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Mundhe said authorities had encountered significant violations of rules governing the manufacture, sale and use of edible oil. He added that manufacturers would need to hold the required licences and comply with FDA directions across the supply chain.
Focus On Loose Oil
The FDA is also expected to examine the sale of loose edible oil, which Mundhe said creates traceability challenges because information about the product’s manufacturing source and date may not be available.
He said the lack of details on the source and manufacturing date of loose edible oil could make it difficult for authorities to trace a product and initiate action if a food-poisoning incident occurred.
According to the commissioner, the absence of manufacturing details can make it harder for authorities to identify the source of a food-safety incident and take corrective action.
Reuse Of Cooking Oil
Repeatedly using cooking oil is another major concern for the regulator. Mundhe described the practice as one of the most dangerous issues and indicated that food businesses could face greater scrutiny over how cooking oil is handled and reused.
He said the issue was not restricted to adulteration or the black market, but also involved practices that could create wider public-health risks.
Mundhe warned that such practices could lead to serious health concerns and, in extreme cases, contribute to an epidemic.
The commissioner also linked consumption of unsafe substances to health risks including heart disease and cancer, and said such practices could adversely affect children’s cognitive development.
Violations could attract stringent action, including life imprisonment and a penalty of Rs 10 lakh, he said.
The FDA’s proposed focus will cover the edible-oil supply chain from manufacturing and licensing to packaging, distribution, retail and usage by food establishments, with traceability and compliance expected to remain key areas of enforcement.
