Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 22 (ANI): The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the operations of seven prominent food establishments across Mumbai, following an intensive statewide inspection drive conducted on August 19-20, 2026.
The sweeps targeted severe hygiene lapses, unhygienic food preparation, and potential misbranding, alongside major crackdowns on prohibited gutkha and adulterated dairy products.
A club in Colaba was caught with live flies and dead cockroaches. A fast-food chain in Colaba was using fake cheese while charging for real paneer. In Nariman Point, a staffer washed his face over clean utensils.
Major Mumbai establishments facing license suspensions include a club in Colaba, suspended due to a 47% non-compliance rate. Inspectors discovered live flies, dead cockroaches, chemical storage next to food, dirty refrigerators, and garbage bins placed adjacent to cooking stoves.
A fast food outlet in Colaba’s license was suspended after an inspection revealed 18 unresolved deficiencies out of 20 previously cited in an Improvement Notice. Officials found live cockroaches, improper hand hygiene, and a misleading 148-page compliance report. Additionally, the outlet was flagged for using non-dairy analogue cheese (“GO Cheese Sauce”) while advertising real cheese/paneer.
A restaurant in Nariman Point’s license was suspended after an employee was caught washing his face directly over clean utensils. Inspectors also reported standing wastewater, unhygienic clothing, heavy grease deposits, and direct cross-contamination risks between raw and cooked items.
A restaurant in Malad West operations halted after failing to rectify 14 out of 25 serious deficiencies previously flagged, including missing grease traps, lack of employee medical records, and absence of mandatory cooking oil displays.
A club in Khar registration was suspended for poor storage, non-compliance with FIFO/FEFO rules, absence of hot-water sanitisation facilities, and improper thawing of frozen foods.
While a sweet shop in Santacruz West and a hotel in Andheri West faced enforcement actions due to severe structural damage, rusted equipment, missing testing logs, and overall failure to meet prescribed hygiene standards.
Beyond the hotel and restaurant sector, the two-day FDA drive yielded major contraband seizures across the state.
2,348 kg of dairy powder and 902 litres of adulterated milk were seized statewide (Value: ₹5.04 lakh), and 1,450 kg/liters of suspect dairy products were seized in Mahape and Navi Mumbai alone.
₹14.55 lakh worth of gutkha and prohibited items were seized statewide with 12 FIRs, 18 arrests, and 12 establishments sealed. In Mumbai, 3 premises were sealed, 6 people arrested, and ₹1.95 lakh worth of banned gutkha seized.
Overall, 89 establishments were inspected, with 71 improvement Notices issued, 13 food licences suspended and 22 targeted raids conducted.
The FDA confirmed that all suspended establishments are strictly barred from purchasing, preparing, or selling food items until all health code violations are fully rectified and cleared by reinspection. (ANI)
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