The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the licences of four Mumbai food establishments after inspections found hygiene and food-safety violations, including unclean kitchens, rusted utensils, poor drainage systems and the mixing of returned bread rolls with fresh stock.
The establishments named by the FDA are Arabian Shawarma Cafe and Fast Food in Borivali, Nath Fast Food, NAIR ON FIRE Cloud Kitchen in Mahim, and Bikaner Sweets and Namkin. The department said Bikaner Sweets and Namkin was also issued a notice to close its business because of unhygienic conditions.
The action formed part of a statewide enforcement drive announced by Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. According to the department’s press note, goods worth approximately Rs 311 crore were seized during the drive across Maharashtra. The inspections covered suspected adulteration, substandard food products, incorrect labelling, unhygienic storage and prohibited food products.
In the Mumbai establishments, officials also found incomplete temperature records, a lack of medical certificates for workers and the use of unauthorised food colours in sweets. The violations were recorded under applicable food-safety and hygiene regulations. The findings highlight the role of routine inspection and record-keeping in regulating kitchens and food outlets operating in densely populated urban neighbourhoods.
The FDA separately seized food products worth Rs 25,195 from two establishments in Kandivali over concerns about colouring agents. At Shree Sadguru Foods in Kandivali East, officials seized spicy potato wafers, banana wafers, garlic sev, peanut bhujia and Schezwan sticks valued at Rs 22,045. The products were suspected of containing unauthorised colouring agents.
At Shree Ganesh Farsan and Sweet Mart in Kandivali West, officials seized jalebi and Maharaja halwa valued at Rs 3,150. The FDA said colouring was found in the products and that they were destroyed on the spot.
The wider operation also included a seizure in Bhiwandi, where the FDA took possession of 11,779 litres of edible oil and 2,850 kg of tea from Viraj Enterprises in Ovali village. The seized stock was valued at Rs 1,27,35,061. A sample of a product sold as Jivo Pomace Olive Oil was sent for laboratory analysis, which found that it was entirely groundnut oil rather than olive oil. The department said further legal action was being taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and applicable rules.
Across the state, the FDA reported seizures of approximately 32,061 litres of edible oil and 37,128 kg of other food stock during the special inspection drive. The department also acted against prohibited pan masala and scented tobacco, including a Mumbai seizure valued at Rs 7,06,800 from a Tata Intra V10 tempo. A case was registered at MIDC Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The FDA has asked consumers to report suspected food-quality violations or malpractice through its toll-free helpline at 1800222365 or its grievance portal at https://complaints.maha.fda.in. Further action against the inspected establishments will depend on the applicable regulatory and legal proceedings.
