A massive food safety violation has come to light in Navi Mumbai, where authorities have uncovered a large-scale operation altering manufacturing and expiry dates on packaged food items. The illicit activity was operating out of the Turbhe industrial belt, prompting a joint raid by enforcement agencies.
Joint Operation Uncovers Manipulation
The crackdown was executed through a joint operation by the Food and Drug Administration of Thane and the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch. The teams inspected premises belonging to M/s Sadhana Enterprises located in the TTC Industrial Area of Turbhe between August 24 and August 29, 2026. Investigators discovered that the original manufacturing dates and use-by dates printed by prominent exporting companies were being systematically erased and replaced with fresh dates.
New Labels Mask Expired Ingredients
According to the findings, operators were also pasting new stickers over the original ingredient lists and nutritional information on several food products. The altered goods were reportedly being repackaged and funneled back into commercial channels for fresh retail distribution. This deceptive practice aimed to sell expired and potentially unsafe goods to unsuspecting consumers.
Substantial Stock and Evidence Seized
The raid yielded a massive cache of food products tied to various major brands. Authorities confiscated a total of 4,942 cartons valued at 75,21,269 rupees. In addition, unlabelled food stock and expired food items worth approximately 30,600 rupees were seized from the site. Three other establishments found operating without mandatory FSSAI licenses and purchase invoices also had their product samples collected for further testing.
Legal Action and Immediate Suspension
Following the discovery, an FIR numbered 457/2026 was formally registered at the Turbhe Police Station under various provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Law enforcement agencies are currently investigating the wider roles and connections of other exporters and establishments linked to the syndicate. In the wake of the operation, the food license of M/s Sadhana Enterprises was suspended with immediate effect.
