The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended 105 food-business licences across the state during a special Diwali enforcement campaign, including 28 establishments in Mumbai, after inspections found hygiene and food-safety violations. The action also includes orders to shut seven establishments in Maharashtra.
According to the report, three of the closure orders were issued in Pune, two in Amravati and one each in Mumbai and the Konkan region. The enforcement drive covered restaurants, sweet shops, caterers, retail outlets and facilities operated by quick-commerce companies.
In Mumbai, the FDA suspended the licences of Zepto’s Worli facility and Blink Commerce Private Limited, which operates Blinkit. Licences were also suspended for Tossin Pizza in Worli, Biryani By Kilo operated by Black Velvet Hospitality, Jumbo Burger operated under Abhay Sharma HUF, Theram Restaurant, Shifu Express and Maratha Kitchen. The reported action reflects the expanding scope of food-safety inspections beyond conventional restaurants to include delivery and quick-commerce operations that handle food and grocery products in dense urban neighbourhoods.
Inspectors reportedly found several basic safety and sanitation deficiencies during checks. These included dirty floors, accumulated soot on walls, damaged ceilings and food items stored directly on unclean surfaces. The inspected premises also lacked adequate arrangements to prevent pest entry, including window mesh in some locations. The report said temperature-control records were not being maintained, a gap that can affect the safe storage of perishable food.
The FDA also found that food preparation and service workers at some establishments did not have medical fitness certificates. Other Mumbai establishments named in the action include Hotel Annapurna, Hotel Sai Pooja, Nityanand Bhuwan Hindu Hotel and Hotel Gurudev Bar and Restaurant.
The campaign extended to sweet shops and food retailers in areas including Nagpada, Vile Parle, Versova and Bhandup. The report said the FDA seized 2,396.6 kilograms of food materials from various sweet shops in Mumbai, with an estimated value of Rs 13.87 lakh. The named establishments include Tahura Sweets and Bakery, Jamnagari Sweets and Farsan, Mahiyar Sweet and Snacks and Samrat Sweets.
The department also suspended the licences of several establishments in Khar, including Durga Vadapav Centre, Bharat General Stores and Grain Shop, Krishna V Dairy and Sweets, Bombay Farsan Mart, Shiv Traders, Bhagyalakshmi Sweet and Farsan Mart, Bharat Dudhालय, Akash Enterprises, Pooja Sweets and Shri Ganesh Farsan and Sweet Mart. The report additionally named Amroha Darbar Caterer in Byculla and Kalash Caterers. Kalash Caterers faced suspension after a large food-poisoning incident was reported at a wedding function, while the licence of the Byculla catering service was also suspended for non-compliance.
The enforcement drive comes ahead of increased demand for prepared food, sweets and catering services during Diwali. The reported inspections and seizures indicate that the FDA’s action is focused on licensing, premises hygiene, pest control, temperature monitoring, worker fitness certification and the handling of food across both formal businesses and neighbourhood establishments.
