Key Update

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of 13 establishments across the state, including the Bombay Presidency Radio Club and a McDonald’s outlet in south Mumbai, over alleged food safety and hygiene violations. The action followed a special drive in which officials inspected 89 hotels, restaurants and dhabas, issued improvement notices to 71 establishments and suspended 13 licences.

Radio Club

An August 19 inspection found a 47% non-compliance rate at the Bombay Presidency Radio Club. Officials allegedly found live flies, dead cockroaches, food stored on the floor, chemicals kept near food, unclean refrigerators, improper thawing and poor pest control. The FDA directed the club to stop purchasing, selling and distributing food during the suspension.

McDonald’s Outlet

The FDA suspended the FSSAI licence of a McDonald’s outlet at Metro House, Colaba, after a re-inspection found 18 of 20 earlier deficiencies unresolved. Officials reported cockroaches, uncalibrated refrigeration equipment, rotting food waste, dirty cleaning cloths and inadequate pest-control measures. Employees also allegedly handled ready-to-eat food without washing their hands after handling dirty footwear and soiled cloths. The FDA also alleged that the outlet used a processed non-dairy/analogue preparation, “GO Cheese SAUCE,” despite displaying claims about using real cheese and paneer.

Other Establishments

The FDA also suspended licences or registration certificates of establishments including Novaara in Malad, Status Restaurant in Nariman Point, Khar Gymkhana, Bajrang Sweet Mart and ASM Hotels and Hospitality Services in Mumbai. Outside Mumbai, Du Brothers Shawarma in Nagpur, Avanti Snacks in Nashik, Pintu Yadav Sweets in Amravati, and three establishments in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Parbhani also faced suspension.

The crackdown highlights Maharashtra FDA’s intensified enforcement against establishments that fail to meet food safety and hygiene requirements.

Source: ET Hospitality World