Maharashtra FDA bans loose spice powder, orders statewide crackdown

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday, 15 October 2026, prohibited the sale of loose, unpackaged spice powders and mixed spices across the state, mandating that all such products be packed and sealed at the place of production before distribution or sale. The order, issued by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, covers manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, e-commerce operators, hotels, restaurants and caterers dealing in spices including turmeric, chilli, coriander, cumin and mixed spice products.

The FDA has banned the use of prohibited colouring agents such as Metanil Yellow, Rhodamine B, Sudan dyes and Lead Chromate, as well as adulterants like brick powder, chalk, sawdust and foreign starch. The use of ethylene oxide for sterilising spices is also prohibited due to its potential carcinogenic effects. Enforcement will extend beyond retailers to trace adulteration back to manufacturers, grinding units and suppliers of prohibited substances. Violations can lead to seizure of products, licence suspension or cancellation, and prosecution under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with fines of up to Rs 10 lakh for misleading advertisements and imprisonment of seven years to life for cases involving death from unsafe food.