- 29 food establishments and manufacturing units suspended by FDA.
- Cockroaches, hygiene issues found at Domino's, hospital kitchens.
- Rs 1.73 crore worth of food products seized statewide.
Cockroaches in a hospital kitchen, hygiene violations at pizza outlets and suspected adulteration have prompted Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to suspend the licences of 25 food establishments and four manufacturing units.
The action covers six Domino’s Pizza outlets in Pune, a hospital kitchen, a college canteen, restaurants, hotels and bakeries. According to an FDA press note issued on October 16, the establishments violated food safety and hygiene requirements under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
In a separate statewide drive, officials seized approximately 81,330 kg of food products worth Rs 1.73 crore from 37 establishments across six divisions. The stock included edible oils, chilli and turmeric powders, supari, dry fruits, sabudana, bhagar, rajgira, tea powder and sweets. Samples have been sent for laboratory testing.
What Did FDA Inspections Reveal?
At the Sodexo kitchen inside Fortis Hospital in Mulund, which prepares meals for patients, inspectors reportedly found cockroaches, food waste near drainage areas, fungus-infested food transport containers and rusted knives.
Inspections at Domino’s Pizza outlets operated by Jubilant FoodWorks in Pune reportedly found live cockroaches and their remains, incomplete temperature records, inadequate separation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian ingredients, and foul smells from toilets near dining areas.
In Mumbai, Janata Bakery in Jogeshwari East scored 28 out of 88 marks during inspection. At Manmandir Sweets in Borivali East, officials issued a closure notice after finding that sweets were being manufactured at an address different from the one on its registration certificate. Inspectors also flagged fly infestation, unclean utensils and missing medical certificates for workers.
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The FDA inspected Arihant Aahar (Onyx) in Ghatkopar following a complaint alleging the unauthorised use of artificial food colours in sweets. Sophia College Canteen on Bhulabhai Desai Road was also among the establishments affected.
The licence suspensions covered seven establishments in Mumbai, eight in Pune, two in the Konkan division and eight in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Four Manufacturing Units Face Action
At Pol Agro Industries in Lasur Station, officials seized 9,165 kg of refined soybean oil worth approximately Rs 15.03 lakh. The unit scored 19 out of 86 marks during inspection. The FDA cited deficiencies in laboratory testing, technical staffing, pest control and food-grade packaging certification.
In Dharmabad, Nanded, raids at Anand Food Product, Janta Industries and Shri Ganesh Mirchi Kandap Kendra led to the seizure of 25,768 kg of chilli powder, turmeric powder and edible salt worth approximately Rs 28.98 lakh. The FDA said the products were intended for adulteration and suspended the licences of all three units with immediate effect.
Food Seizures Across Maharashtra
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar recorded the largest seizure by weight, with 37,251 kg of products worth Rs 48.40 lakh confiscated.
Nagpur officials seized stock worth Rs 45.75 lakh, including roasted supari, spices, tea powder and kunda. In the Konkan division, seizures worth Rs 31.95 lakh included dry fruits, edible oils and savoury snacks.
Pune division reported seizures worth Rs 36.25 lakh, covering sabudana, bhagar, rajgira, groundnuts, edible oils and wafers. In Nashik, officials seized food products worth Rs 10.64 lakh, including tea powder, edible oil, sweets and bakery items.
In Mumbai, the FDA seized 130 kg of savoury snacks worth Rs 22,045 from Shree Sadguru Foods. At Shri Ganesh Farsan and Sweet Mart in Kandivali West, 3 kg of jalebi and Maharaja halwa worth Rs 3,150 were destroyed after food colour was found during inspection.
The FDA said samples of seized products had been sent for laboratory analysis, with further legal action to follow under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
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Separate Drive Against Banned Food Products
In another operation on October 14 and 15, the FDA inspected 13 establishments and vehicles across Mumbai, Pune, Konkan and Nagpur to curb the sale, storage and transportation of banned food products.
Officials seized banned stock worth Rs 18.83 lakh and two vehicles, taking the total value of seized property to more than Rs 21.83 lakh. The operation led to 10 FIRs, cases against 10 accused and four establishments being sealed.
Pune accounted for six FIRs, six arrests and three sealed establishments. In the Konkan division, one person was arrested and one establishment sealed. Nagpur recorded one FIR and one arrest.
The FDA said the operations aimed to curb the distribution of banned food products and enforce food safety standards across Maharashtra.