Tukaram Mundhe led Maharashtra FDA seized Rs 1.20 crore worth of food supplies. The seized food stock weighed around 50,601.78 kg. The seized products included sweets, milk and milk products, edible oil, rice, dry fruits, namkeen, farsan, tea, spices, sauces, noodles, wafers, and other food products.
The FDA crackdown covered areas of Thane, Navi Mumbai, Raigad and Sindhudurg, according to the FDA statement. The FDA stated that it also took action against food products in Jalgaon, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nagpur, Bhandara, Chandrapur and Akola.
Serious hygiene and food safety violations, such as pest infestations, improper food storage, inadequate segregation of raw and cooked food, lack of protective equipment and other sanitary breaches were observed during investigations in Mumbai.
The administration suspended licences or registration certificates of 30 food establishments across Maharashtra. Out of the 30, thirteen were in Mumbai, six in the Konkan division, eight in the Pune division, and three in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division.
FDA initiated legal actions against certain food establishments under the Food Safety and Standards Act etc.
Kyani & Co in Kalbadevi, famous for preserving its age-old charm, wooden aesthetics, high ceilings, and is considered a heritage cafe, got its FSSAI licence revoked. Officials found cats, rat droppings, live flies and dead cockroaches in the food preparation and storage areas, besides blood collected in a refrigerator and an open sewage manhole in the processing section.
At Colaba Sweet Mart, live cockroaches, lizards, flies and larvae were discovered. The restaurant also lacked pest-control measures, staff medical fitness records and personal protective equipment, the statement said.
The FSSAI licences of Arun Vilas Farsan in Dharavi and Ruchi Veg Restaurant in Parel were also suspended over hygiene and sanitary violations.
Legal actions were taken against QSR Brands India, Royal China, Tiffin, United Bakery & Stores, Shree Padmavati Enterprises and Hotel Purandar Vilas for violations under Food Safety and Standards Act etc.
Daffodils Fast Food Inn in Vile Parle also got its licence suspended, according to the FDA statement. Extremely unhygienic conditions, including dirty refrigeration equipment, non-functional temperature displays and food stored alongside workers' belongings led to the decision.
The licence of EverSub India Pvt Ltd, which operates a Subway outlet in Lower Parel, was suspended due to a faulty refrigerator, a mould-like layer, foul smell and live cockroaches, it said.
Six licences were suspended in Thane in Konkan division, including Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd and Foclo Technologies Pvt Ltd (Instamart).
Shri Siddhivinayak Foods, Chainess Dot Com, Jyoti Foods and New Golden Even Fresh Bakery were among other establishments covered, the FDA stated.
In Pune, the FDA suspended the licence of a National Commodities Management Services warehouse at Tanang in Sangli district over unsafe fumigation and improper storage.
Some well known establishments like Hotel Ashok Sai Niketan, Shivray Foods, Samarth Hospitality Services, Ajinkya Restaurant, Hotel Lokshahi, Hotel Surabhi and Nukkad Restaurant received legal notices for violations of licence conditions and hygiene provisions.
In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, Bangalore Bakery in Parbhani, Siddhanath Nagnath Agrovet Farmer Producer Company in Hingoli and Appa Chaha Center in Beed were inspected for violations of hygiene and sanitation requirements.
A separate crackdown on banned food products was conducted by the FDA across Maharashtra. It involved inspections of 26 establishments where banned items were found at each location.
The food products worth Rs 30.63 lakh were seized; 22 FIRs were lodged, 30 individuals were arrested, three establishments sealed, and three vehicles confiscated.
The division-wise inspections covered 15 establishments in Konkan, two in Nashik, three in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, five in Nagpur, and one in Pune. Samples of seized food products were sent for laboratory testing, with further legal steps pending the results.
Tukaram Mundhe, Maharashtra FDAs appointed commissioner, who is the brain behind these operations, said that, “The Government is extremely strict about the quality of food products in Maharashtra and the enforcement of the law.” Elaborating on the seriousness of the issue that has been persisting for years, he further added, “Playing with the health of consumers and the public will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Such strict legal action will continue against establishments selling/storing food products that are expired, tampered with, or prepared in unhygienic and unsafe conditions.”
According to a WHO report, unsafe food contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances can cause more than 200 different diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers.
WHO states that unsafe food results in a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition, particularly affecting infants, young children, older people and the sick.
Good collaboration between governments, food producers and consumers is needed to help make food safer and food systems stronger.
The Maharashtra FDA advised consumers to verify the quality, manufacturing and expiry dates, labels, and FSSAI licences or registrations of food businesses before making purchases during the festive season. Practicing these precautions will safeguard them from serious health risks.
Reference:
1. World Health Organization, “Food Safety,” June 4, 2026, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/food-safety
(Rh/MF/MSM)
