Video: Live rat in gulaab jamuns at Maharashtra shop triggers outrage, FDA action

A deeply distressing food safety incident has surfaced in Maharashtra’s Bhiwandi after a live rat was found moving inside a large container filled with Gulab Jamuns at a local sweet shop. A video showing the rodent inside the container has gone viral on social media, triggering public outrage and raising serious questions over hygiene, food storage and safety standards at the establishment.The footage shows the live rat roaming inside the container while the Gulab Jamuns are kept for sale.The incident has sparked anger among citizens, with questions being raised over how the rodent managed to enter the container and whether adequate precautions were being taken to protect food from contamination.The matter was brought to the attention of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after the video surfaced online. Officials subsequently issued a notice to the shop, identified as Harish Gulab Jamun, and initiated action over the reported food safety lapse. According to the information available, the FDA has also directed that operations and the sale of food items at the establishment be halted until further notice.Further action is expected after the department examines the circumstances surrounding the incident and determines whether additional violations of food safety regulations have taken place.WIDER MAHARASHTRA FDA CRACKDOWN The Bhiwandi incident comes amid an intensified crackdown by the Maharashtra FDA on food safety and hygiene violations under Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.In recent weeks, the department has taken action against eateries over poor hygiene, improper storage, inadequate documentation and other safety lapses.Licences of eight eateries in Mumbai were suspended, while the registration certificates of three others were cancelled or suspended during separate inspections.The department has also carried out seizures involving chemically ripened bananas, banned gutkha and pan masala, adulterated milk and khoya among others.In one major investigation in Pune district, the FDA uncovered suspected milk adulteration involving detergent and Nonylphenol Ethoxylate, while 16,730 litres of milk were destroyed during related action.In Akola, around 1,900 kg of khoya was seized ahead of the festive season for examination of its quality and hygiene standards.The Bhiwandi case is now likely to face further scrutiny as the FDA examines the shop's food handling and storage practices.With the viral video intensifying public concern, further regulatory or legal action could follow depending on the findings of the ongoing proceedings.- Ends