India

Ganesh Chaturthi Mandals Ask Maharashtra FDA for Clear Rules on Mahaprasad Amid Food Safety Crackdown

By Swati Gandhi

Ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, Ganapati mandals in Mumbai have sought clarification from Maharashtra's Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for distributing 'mahaprasad' during the festival. The request comes as FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe intensifies a crackdown on eateries and restaurants selling adulterated or expired food.

On Monday, the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS), which coordinates public Ganapati mandals across Mumbai, formally asked authorities to clarify the rules governing prasad distribution, according to a PTI report.

Speaking at the Mumbai Press Club, BSGSS president Naresh Dahibavkar said the committee supports measures to ensure food safety but asked authorities to consider the financial constraints faced by smaller mandals and to clearly outline the applicable norms. He said mandal representatives had raised concerns about the rules and SOPs, prompting the committee to write to officials. "If the mahaprasad has to be stopped altogether, then tell us that. But, as far as I know, we have not received any answer yet," Dahibavkar said.

A committee representative added that while they fully support the department's actions, smaller mandals lack the funds to hire contractors. "If a reputed contractor is mandatory, please tell us what we should do," the representative said.

Last week, the FDA under Mundhe announced a year-round SOP aimed at strengthening food safety monitoring across Maharashtra. Under the new framework, enforcement activities for festivals will begin 21 days in advance, following a standardised schedule for all major festivals.

The festive season typically sees a surge in consumption of food items vulnerable to adulteration, including sweets, dairy products, edible oils, meat, and dry fruits. Previously, authorities issued separate orders for individual festivals with little advance notice, which often led to last-minute inspections by food safety officers and unexpected enforcement action against food businesses.

The move to introduce a year-long SOP follows significant pushback over the FDA's recent statewide crackdown, which led to the seizure of unsafe food products and the suspension of numerous licences.

As part of the new plan, FDA officials will identify high-risk areas and food products and conduct inspections at manufacturing units, mills, wholesale markets, and storage facilities. The regulator has classified celebrations across the state into three tiers based on scale. Level 2 includes regional festivals such as Makar Sankranti, Holi, Gudi Padwa, Raksha Bandhan, and Dussehra, while Level 3 covers local fairs, village celebrations, and processions.