The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended licences or registrations, and initiated regulatory action, against 21 food establishments across the state after inspections reported hygiene, food storage, pest-control and licensing violations. Five of the establishments are in Mumbai, including Barista Coffee Company Limited in Shivaji Park and Sandy Da Dhaba in Madh.
The Mumbai action also covers Rajidi Retail in Bhandup Village, Food Hub cloud kitchen in Malad and Milkow’s Dairy Products in Kandivali. According to the FDA, inspections found conditions ranging from unclean refrigeration equipment and pest infestations to expired food products, inadequate records and incorrect licence categories.
At Barista Coffee Company Limited in Shivaji Park, officials reported rusted, damaged and unclean refrigerators and freezers, inadequate temperature control and uncovered food. The establishment had also not properly segregated vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, the FDA said. Officials further reported that food and water test reports, packaging quality certificates, equipment calibration records, employee medical certificates and training records were unavailable.
The inspection at Sandy Da Dhaba in Madh found severe uncleanliness, including rats and flies on the premises. The FDA also flagged unhygienic chicken storage and improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Employee medical and hygiene records were reportedly unavailable.
At Rajidi Retail in Bhandup Village, officials found dirty deep freezers, dead flies, pest infestation, broken floor tiles and rusted racks and pallets. Temperature records for cold and freezer rooms were not maintained, while employee medical reports and internal audit records were also unavailable, according to the FDA.
Food Hub, a cloud kitchen in Malad, was reported to be overcrowded and unclean. Some food products did not carry manufacturing or expiry dates, and expired spices were found during the inspection. The FDA also cited open sewage drains, accumulated water near the entrance and inadequate pest-control measures. Employees had reportedly not undergone medical examinations.
Milkow’s Dairy Products in Kandivali was found to be operating under an incorrect licence category and was required to obtain a manufacturing licence, the FDA said. Inspectors also reported dirty walls and ceilings, inadequate lighting and ventilation, poor pest control and a lack of cleaning, sanitisation, calibration and maintenance records.
The wider Maharashtra operation covered eateries, bakeries, restaurants, caterers and other food businesses in Mumbai, Pune, Raigad and other districts. Across the Mumbai, Pune and Konkan divisions, licences of 21 food establishments were suspended, while food and drinking water worth lakhs of rupees were seized.
In Dhule, FDA officials seized 8,020 litres of packaged drinking water worth Rs 1.63 lakh from Shivay Beverages LLP in the MIDC Nardana area. The stock was suspected to be adulterated or substandard. In the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, products worth about Rs 30.3 lakh were seized during inspections in Jalna, Dharashiv, Hingoli and Nanded, including malai pedha, rice, ghee, pumpkin seeds and 888 kg of toor dal.
In Raigad, the FDA seized 65 litres of misbranded loose milk from Shiv Kailas Dairy in Taloja. The stock included 40 litres of raw cow milk and 25 litres of raw buffalo milk. Samples were collected for further legal action.
Pune accounted for 15 of the 21 establishments facing suspension or regulatory action. The FDA reported cockroach infestations, poor sanitation, improper food storage, expired or damaged products and missing food licences at several locations. Chinese Story and Oye Kiddan Restaurant in Hinjewadi, New Rajdhani Bakery in Loni Kalbhor, and Aai Mata Farsan and Wefers in Ambegaon Budruk were among the establishments named in the inspection findings.
The FDA has urged citizens to report suspected food-quality violations through its toll-free number, 1800222365, or the Food and Drug Administration’s Food and Drug Grievance Portal.
