India, May 29 -- Days after taking charge as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Tukaram Mundhe launched a statewide crackdown on food adulteration, banned products and unhygienic food manufacturing practices. Over the past three days, the FDA arrested 33 people, sealed 27 establishments and seized adulterated and unsafe food products worth crores, officials said on Thursday.

The drive was carried out across multiple divisions in Maharashtra to curb activities affecting public health. Officials said the operation targeted organised adulteration rackets, banned products such as gutkha and tobacco mixtures, counterfeit food products and units violating food safety norms.

During the raids, the FDA detected 34 locations ...