Mumbai’s food safety authorities have suspended the licence of Olympia Coffee House in Colaba after an inspection found a urinal inside its food storage area, an infestation of cockroaches and flies, and unhygienic food preparation practices. The suspension took effect immediately and bars the establishment from carrying out food-related activities during the enforcement period.
The action followed a consumer complaint that raised concerns about hygiene at the iconic restaurant. Food safety officers inspected the premises and identified conditions that led to the suspension of its licence, according to the Food and Drug Administration officials cited by the Times of India.
The authority said Olympia Coffee House had been directed to stop the purchase, preparation, storage, sale and distribution of food during the suspension period. The order therefore covers the restaurant’s entire food-handling operation rather than only a particular dish, kitchen area or service counter.
The crackdown also covered seven other establishments. They included Vishwas Sweets and Snacks in Ghatkopar West, A-1 General & Dry Fruits, Milan Punjab in Worli and Sadguru Sweets in Malad East. A Blinkit warehouse in Chembur was also among the establishments whose licences were suspended after it failed to meet hygiene standards.
A canteen inside Nair Hospital was cited for what officials described as “serious hygiene and safety breaches affecting patient and public health”. The inclusion of a hospital food facility places the enforcement action beyond restaurant regulation, since food prepared or served within healthcare premises can affect patients, hospital staff and visitors.
The suspensions form part of the state’s festive-season food safety campaign, during which authorities also seized milk and dairy products worth Rs 7,38,230 across Maharashtra. The reported action combines inspections of food businesses with seizure operations involving commonly consumed perishable products.
The cases highlight the role of the state food safety administration in monitoring facilities across different parts of Mumbai’s food system, from restaurants and sweet shops to hospital canteens and a quick-commerce warehouse. Each serves a different consumer group, but all depend on safe storage, preparation and handling practices before food reaches the public.
For Olympia Coffee House, operations can resume only in accordance with the directions issued by the food safety authority. The establishment’s immediate next step is to remain closed to all food-related purchase, preparation, storage, sale and distribution activities during the suspension period.
