The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the food safety licences of a Zepto facility in Bhandup and a Brijwasi outlet in Malad after inspections found serious hygiene and sanitation violations, with the action forming part of a statewide festive-season crackdown on food safety violations.
The FDA suspended Zepto Limited’s licence for its premises at Gopal Estate on Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg in Bhandup with immediate effect from October 9. The department said an inspection conducted on October 7 found serious violations of hygiene and sanitary requirements under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses Regulations, 2011.
The licence, numbered 11524013000117, was suspended under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, read with Regulation 2.18.4. The FDA did not specify the individual hygiene or sanitation deficiencies recorded at the Bhandup facility.
The regulator also suspended the licence of Ms Krishnam Retails LLP, which operates under the Brijwasi name in Malad West. The inspection was conducted on October 9 during the special festive-season drive, and the licence was suspended from October 10 under Sections 32(1) and 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
According to the FDA, the inspection found deficiencies posing a serious risk to public health. The outlet’s licence, numbered 11526010000059, was suspended immediately. The department did not disclose further details of the violations identified at the Malad premises.
The wider operation resulted in the seizure of banned food products worth Rs 1.44 crore, 10 first information reports and six arrests, according to an FDA press note issued on Monday. In Palghar, officials seized banned gutkha, pan masala and scented tobacco from a truck near Hotel Manor Gate on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway on October 9. The products were valued at Rs 1.30 crore, while the truck was valued at approximately Rs 20 lakh. An offence was registered against the driver, cleaner and six other accused at Manor Police Station.
The FDA also reported enforcement action against milk and milk-product establishments in Taloja and other parts of the state. In Taloja, officials destroyed 5,394 litres of milk and 119 kg of paneer after inspections found licensing, hygiene, record-keeping and drainage-related violations. A further 1,019 kg of curd was placed in safe custody after a discrepancy was found between the product’s nutritional label and laboratory analysis. The department said the action covered milk and milk products valued at Rs 3,88,740.
In Pune division, the FDA seized 9,675.2 kg of edible oil worth Rs 21,94,797 in cases involving suspected substandard or unsafe products. Four food establishments operating without a licence or registration were directed to stop business, while three others were cited for violations of hygiene requirements.
The department also reported seizures of suspected adulterated jaggery in Ahilyanagar and banned food products in Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur. The FDA has asked consumers to report food-quality complaints or malpractice through its toll-free number, 1800 222 2365, or its grievance portal at complaints.maha.fda.in.
