The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the food licence of Mumbai’s Kyani & Co. in Kalbadevi after inspectors reportedly found cats, rat droppings, live flies, dead cockroaches, blood inside a refrigerator and an open sewage manhole in the food-processing area. The action was part of a wider festive-season crackdown between September 23 and 27 that targeted food businesses across the state.
According to the FDA, Kyani & Co. was ordered to immediately stop purchasing, manufacturing, processing, storing, selling and distributing food products. The inspection findings included multiple sanitation and storage violations in areas used for food preparation and preservation.
The FDA also suspended the licence of Colaba Sweet Mart in Colaba Market. Inspectors reportedly found live lizards, cockroaches, flies and larvae, along with dirty mop buckets kept near uncovered food. Ready-to-eat food and raw dough were allegedly placed in direct contact with printed newspapers. The establishment also lacked required pest-control measures, staff medical fitness records and personal protective equipment, according to the department.
At a Subway outlet operated by Ever Sub India Pvt Ltd at Phoenix Mills in Lower Parel, the licence was suspended following a consumer complaint. The FDA said inspectors found a faulty refrigerator with a mould-like layer, a foul smell and live cockroaches. Standing water was present on the kitchen floor, while raw food items were allegedly in contact with a worker’s used jacket.
Other Mumbai establishments facing action included Daffodils Fast Food Inn in Vile Parle East, Arun Vilas Farsan in Dharavi and Ruchi Veg Restaurant in Parel. The FDA reported dirty refrigeration equipment, non-functional temperature displays, food stored alongside workers’ belongings, staff sleeping in food-storage areas, coconuts being peeled inside a bathroom, rat infestation, damaged food inventory, cobwebs and missing pest-control records among the violations found during inspections.
The department initiated legal proceedings against six other Mumbai food businesses: QSR Brands India Pvt Ltd in Andheri East, Astra Corporation and Royal China in Fort, Tiffin restaurant in Bandra West, United Bakery & Stores in Santacruz West, Shree Padmavati Enterprises in Jogeshwari West and Hotel Purandar Vilas in Khar West.
Across Maharashtra, the FDA said it suspended 30 food licences or registration certificates and seized 50,601.78 kg of food stock valued at about Rs 1.19 crore during the drive. The seized products included khoa, paneer, ghee, cream, sweets, shrikhand, lassi, coconut oil, farsan, wafers, spices, dry fruits, sauces and noodles. Some of the products were suspected to be substandard, adulterated, unsafe or incorrectly labelled.
In a separate drive against banned food products, the department said it seized stock worth Rs 30.63 lakh, registered 22 FIRs, arrested 30 people, sealed three establishments and seized three vehicles valued at Rs 14.80 lakh. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said strict legal action would continue against establishments found selling or storing expired, tampered with or unhygienically prepared food products.
