By Aditi Mishra

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the food business license of Sodexo India Services Pvt Ltd, which managed catering services for Fortis Hospital. FDA officials took the action after finding cockroaches and fungus in the hospital’s kitchen, along with clogged drains and rusted kitchen equipment, during an inspection at Fortis Hospital Mulund, Mumbai.

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration is conducting wider food inspections across the state, and the suspension of Sodexo Services was part of it.

The FDA is raising concerns about food safety and hygiene standards and taking strict action against violations.

FDA officials found cockroaches in the kitchen where food was prepared for patients, rusted knives which were used in meal preparation, food clogging the drainage system, and containers which were used to store and transport food were covered in fungus.

The investigation exposed hygiene violations in the hospital's kitchen, which was responsible for preparing meals for hospital patients. The FDA suspended the food business license held by Sodexo India Services Ltd, a third-party company which is responsible for operating the kitchen.

Fortis Hospital, Mulund stated that it was going to take serious and immediate action regarding the findings and observations made by FDA officials and had directed its catering partner to look into the matter and make required amendments to ensure patient fitness and wellness. The hospital said in a statement:

“We take the observations raised by the FDA seriously and have directed the service provider to promptly address them and ensure compliance with all applicable food safety requirements.”

The hospital also added that it was working with Sodexo to examine the problems and take remedial actions to fix the issue. It further stated that alternative measures were being made to ensure that patients and their attendants continued to receive meals till the issue was resolved.

“Appropriate alternative arrangements are being made, wherever required, to ensure the uninterrupted provision of safe, nutritious meals to patients and their attendants.”

The reports have not concluded whether the meal prepared in the kitchen under the reported situation was served to patients or whether anyone became ill as a result.

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Diet plays a crucial role in recovery, especially after any medical surgery. Poor food hygiene can make patients more prone to food contamination or foodborne infections. Food hygiene is particularly important in hospitals as some patients may have weak immune systems or be recovering from a disease.

Cockroaches, fungus-covered containers, and clogged drainage systems can allow the spread of bacteria and microorganisms. Maintaining cleanliness at hospital meal preparation areas, sanitizing kitchen equipment, and storing food in clean containers should be seriously prioritized for the wellness and health safety of patients and to prevent hospital infection.

The FDA’s findings do not establish that any patient has developed health consequences because of the reported kitchen conditions.

Yes. The suspension of Sodexo Services was announced on October 16, 2026, and it was part of a Maharashtra-wide food safety drive. 

According to reports published by Mid-Day, the Maharashtra FDA suspended licenses held by 29 food establishments and manufacturing units across the state. These included 25 food establishments and four edible-oil and spice manufacturing units, following inspections that identified food safety and hygiene violations. The affected establishments included:

Seven in Mumbai Division, two in the Konkan Division, eight in Pune and eight in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Division.

They included hotels, restaurants, bakeries and canteens. Six Domino’s Pizza outlets in Pune were also among the establishments affected.

The FDA also suspended the license of the canteen at Sophia College in Mumbai for similar violations. The college said it had discontinued the canteen contractor’s services and begun making improvements in catering services.

(Rh/AM)