Maharashtra FDA Suspends 56 Restaurant Licences in Statewide Food Safety Drive
Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration has carried out 1,131 inspections across the state, seizing food stocks worth nearly Rs 50 crore and suspending the licences of 56 restaurants, with major violations uncovered at well-known eateries in Mumbai localities such as Churchgate and Bhendi Bazaar.
The statewide enforcement drive, initiated under FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe after he assumed charge on May 25, has targeted kitchens, storerooms, milk suppliers, manufacturers, drug businesses, and government canteens to curb adulteration and hygiene lapses.
In Mumbai, food safety inspectors reported pest-control and hygiene violations at K Rustom & Co. in Churchgate, while Noor Mohammadi in Bhendi Bazaar was flagged for hygiene and storage-related deficiencies. At Parsi Dairy Farm, officials discovered fungal growth and raw materials kept near mould-affected walls. Shalimar was cited for multiple storage and hygiene lapses, while at Flint and Wara, officials seized allegedly mislabelled items and destroyed expired food stocks.
Across Maharashtra, the FDA has seized more than 1.6 lakh litres of allegedly adulterated milk as part of the nearly Rs 50 crore in seized food stocks. Inspections have covered a wide range of facilities, extending from commercial dining establishments to the High Court canteen and government offices.
To facilitate public reporting, the FDA has launched a toll-free complaint number. Mundhe noted that the helpline has seen an active response from citizens, emphasising that food safety regulations must be strictly enforced regardless of the reputation or longevity of an establishment.
