The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended or revoked the licences of several food establishments in Mumbai, Thane and Kharghar after inspections found alleged violations involving hygiene, pest control, food storage, cold-chain management and licensing compliance. The action includes three establishments operating at ISKCON Juhu and a supplier linked to an IRCTC food facility.
The FDA inspected food establishments at ISKCON Juhu’s Hare Krishna Land on September 3. According to the department’s statement, serious violations of food safety and hygiene requirements were found at the Food Services/Restaurant establishment and ISKCON Govindas Restaurant. The licences of both establishments were suspended, along with that of a third food establishment operating on the premises.
The inspections were carried out under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and related regulations. The FDA has not provided, in the material reviewed, details of the duration of the suspensions or the conditions required for the establishments to resume operations.
The regulator also inspected five establishments supplying food to passengers through IRCTC base kitchens and food plazas in Mumbai and Thane. These included R K Associates Hoteliers Pvt Ltd in Kurla West, Om Sai Ram Enterprises and Ambuj Hotels & Real Estate Pvt Ltd in Chembur, Express Food Services in Powai, and Araha Hospitality Pvt Ltd in Kopri Colony, Thane East.
The licence of R K Associates Hoteliers Pvt Ltd was suspended after an inspection on September 2. The establishment was marked “Non-Compliant” and scored 78 out of 114 marks. FDA inspectors reportedly found cockroaches in food storage and serving areas, open food containers, and food preparation taking place near open garbage. The inspection also recorded 17 broken floor tiles, cracks and poor wall surfaces at four locations, and concerns over employee hygiene. Only 21 of the 34 food-handling workers had medical fitness certificates available during the inspection.
IRCTC said corrective measures had been completed at the Kurla base kitchen and that operations would resume the following day. The organisation said corrective work at the remaining locations was in progress. The FDA issued correction notices to the other four establishments inspected under the IRCTC food-supply network.
The wider enforcement drive also covered other food businesses. The Food Fusion Cafe in Ghatkopar was inspected after a viral complaint and received 51 out of 98 points, with the report recording non-compliance. The FDA cited improperly stored rice, uncovered raw chicken, inadequately sealed vegetables, unsuitable refrigerator temperatures, poor drainage, unclean utensils and missing employee medical, vaccination and food-safety training records.
Shree Madhuram in Borivali East scored 29 out of 82 points. The FDA said the establishment was registered as a hawker or mobile food vendor but was operating as a food-service restaurant. Licences were also suspended for Kothari Sweet in Mulund West, Mulund Farsan Mart and Maharashtra Biryani Center in Goregaon East. The findings included alleged unauthorised production, inadequate refrigeration, pest-control deficiencies, expired food, missing labels and gaps in food-safety documentation.
The FDA further reported violations at a Zepto facility operated by Drogheria Sellers Pvt Ltd in Malad West. Inspectors reportedly found live cockroaches in raw-food storage areas, including inside a box of packaged eggs, as well as on a beverage-preparation table. Perishable dairy products, including milk, paneer and curd, were reportedly stored at 14 to 15 degrees Celsius, above the stated expected range of 2 to 6 degrees Celsius. The department also reported that the cold-storage room was operating at 20 to 21 degrees Celsius and that some packages showed signs of swelling.
Mateshwari Dairy in Kharghar also faces action after the FDA detected irregularities in its milk business. The department said the establishment’s licence had been revoked. The FDA said inspections of railway base kitchens, food plazas and establishments supplying food to railway passengers would continue, with action against businesses found compromising food quality, hygiene or safety standards.
