Maharashtra FDA Action Hits 12 Food Establishments as 32,023 Kg/Litres Stock Seized

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has intensified food-safety inspections across Mumbai, with licences of multiple food establishments suspended following inspections conducted between September 17 and 20. The action includes Swiggy Instamart, an Amazon-linked warehouse, Jain Sweet & Bhelpuri House, Suleman Usman Mithaiwala and The Gallops Restaurant at Mahalaxmi Racecourse.

The latest action comes as the state FDA continues inspections of restaurants, hotels, bakeries, sweet shops, warehouses and other food businesses. The licence of The Gallops Restaurant at Mahalaxmi Racecourse has been suspended over alleged food-safety violations.

An Amazon-linked warehouse operated by Acculogicx Supply Chain Solutions in Kandivli also faced licence suspension after inspectors reported sanitation and drainage deficiencies, stagnant wastewater and inadequate segregation between food materials and cleaning chemicals.

Jain Sweet & Bhelpuri House in Kandivli West was also found with deficiencies and food-safety violations, leading to suspension of its licence. Other establishments, including Sadguru Sweets and Farsan Mart, NICE Enterprises, Lucknowi Kebab and Zaika Moradabadi Hotel, also faced suspension or regulatory action.

The wider FDA operation covered 64 hotels, restaurants, dhabas, bakeries and other food establishments across Maharashtra. During the crackdown, 12 licences were suspended and improvement notices were issued to 36 establishments.

The inspections also resulted in the seizure or destruction of approximately 32,023 kg/litres of food stock valued at R1.36 crore. The seized or destroyed material included suspected adulterated or unhygienic khoya, mawa, sweets, ghee, oil and dairy products.

At a Swiggy Instamart dark store in Ballard Estate, FDA officials reported finding a live rat in the food-handling area. Inspectors also reported rice bags damaged by rodents and rodent droppings at the facility. Cockroaches were reportedly found on food products, while flies were found inside storage carts and dirt and insect remains were reported inside refrigeration units. The store’s licence was suspended indefinitely.

For Mumbai’s hospitality and food-service operators, the latest inspections underline the regulatory focus on sanitation, storage conditions, pest control, drainage and segregation of food materials from cleaning chemicals. The action also extends beyond restaurants to food warehouses and other establishments involved in the handling and storage of food products.