MUMBAI, Nov. 7 -- As part of its special Diwali food safety crackdown on November 4 and 5, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) suspended the licences of 105 firms and cancelled the licences of seven eateries across the state. It also seized 39,485 kg of food products worth Rs.1.35 crore from more than 69 establishments. In Mumbai, the licences of 28 eateries were suspended, and one, Rajdhani Biryani Centre, was cancelled. Quick-commerce companies 'Blink Commerce' and 'Zepto' also had their licence suspended. Around 2,396.6 kg of food products valued at Rs.13.87 lakh were seized across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The action followed inspections that revealed violations in hygiene, food storage, manufacturing practices, licensing requirements and missing food-handler medical and training records. The stock of the owner of Jetharam Chuniram Puniya (Malad) was seized for manufacturing food products without a licence and selling them without proper labels. Fourty-four kilos of boondi laddus and kalakand from Jamnagari Sweets and Farsan (Vile Parle) was confiscated over alleged use of excess food colour. The violations were found despite the fact that the FDA had issued a clear warning to sweet vendors and manufacturers to abide by the rules in the run-up to the Diwali festival. It will now continue its action for food safety prior to all major festivals. FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the FDA was the protective shield for citizens against unsafe food and that there would be no compromise on food quality or public health, irrespective of a business's size or reputation....