Maharashtra FDA Suspends Hotel Radha's Licence in Malad Over Severe Pest Infestation

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Maharashtra has suspended the food business licence of Hotel Radha in Malad (West), Mumbai, following an inspection that uncovered severe pest infestations and unhygienic conditions in its kitchen.

The enforcement action was carried out after a raid conducted on August 18. Acting under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, authorities ordered the immediate suspension of the establishment's licence and mandated the immediate closure of all manufacturing, storage, sale, and distribution operations.

During the inspection, officials discovered an active rodent infestation. Live rats were observed near the ceiling and emerging directly from open drainage lines in the kitchen. The kitchen drains were left wide open and poorly maintained, providing entry pathways for municipal sewage pests.

Inspectors also detected live cockroaches crawling directly over food preparation equipment, including a dough-mixing machine. The premises showed severe environmental unhygiene, marked by foul odours resulting from stagnant water, grease accumulation, and drainage seepage.

Visual documentation gathered during the inspection revealed an extremely dirty kitchen with heavy coatings of oil and grease. Utensils and cooking counters were covered in black layers, and several utensils showed signs of rust. Boxes and containers used for storing food items were covered in mud and dust, and food ingredients were kept in unhygienic conditions.

Inspectors also found an open dustbin containing waste positioned directly below a toaster used for food preparation. Storage units across the facility were similarly found to be poorly maintained.

The suspension of Hotel Radha's operations comes amid an ongoing statewide crackdown by the Maharashtra FDA targeting hygiene violations across hotels, restaurants, government canteens, and other food establishments.