Maharashtra FDA Suspends 30 Food Licences in Statewide Safety Drive

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences or registration certificates of 30 food establishments following a statewide inspection drive conducted ahead of the festive season. The enforcement operation, carried out between September 23 and 27, also resulted in the seizure of more than 50,000 kg of food products valued at approximately ₹1.19 crore.

The inspections covered restaurants, bakeries, food manufacturers, warehouses, dairy units, distributors and other food businesses across several parts of the state. Officials examined conditions relating to food storage, handling, sanitation, labelling and compliance with food safety requirements.

Mumbai was among the areas where significant violations were recorded. At Kyani & Co. in Kalbadevi, inspectors reported the presence of cats, rat droppings, live flies and dead cockroaches in food preparation and storage areas. Officials also reported blood collected inside a refrigerator and an open sewage manhole near the food-processing section.

At another Mumbai establishment, Colaba Sweet Mart, inspectors found live cockroaches, lizards, flies and larvae. The inspection also identified shortcomings involving pest-control arrangements, employee medical fitness records and protective equipment.

The enforcement action extended beyond Mumbai. In Pune and neighbouring districts, the FDA seized products including khoa, paneer, ghee, cream, sweets, shrikhand, lassi, coconut oil and other food items suspected in some cases of being adulterated, unsafe, substandard or incorrectly labelled.

In the Konkan region, more than 23,800 kg of food products were seized, while additional seizures were reported from Jalgaon, Nagpur, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Akola and other districts.

The FDA also initiated legal proceedings against several establishments over alleged breaches of food safety requirements. The operation highlights the regulatory scrutiny applied to food businesses regarding hygiene, storage, pest management, product quality and licensing compliance.

29-09-2026