14 August,2026 01:27 PM IST | Mumbai | Abhitash Singh
Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. FILE PIC/Atul Kamble
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) latest food-safety offensive has thrown up a worrying trail extending well beyond the alleged lapses of five Domino's and two Pizza Hut outlets across the state. From expired pizza dough and suspected substandard frozen paneer to poor segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, pest-control lapses, and inadequate temperature monitoring, inspections across the state have put the spotlight on the systems governing food served by both multinational chains and local eateries.
Under its "Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra" campaign, the FDA inspected 104 chain restaurant establishments on August 11, covering major names including Domino's, KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks, and Monginis. The drive resulted in 95 improvement notices, two establishments being ordered to stop business, and five food-business licences being suspended.
Piles of garbage lie open on the premises of the Domino's outlet in Vile Parle West. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The action against Domino's operator Jubilant FoodWorks included three Mumbai outlets at Vile Parle West, Borivli West, and R-City Mall in Ghatkopar West, besides an outlet at Malkapur in Karad, Satara.
At Satara, the FDA recorded 54 per cent non-compliance, citing deficiencies in food storage, temperature monitoring, food testing, sanitation, and pest control. The outlet was also directed to properly segregate raw and cooked as well as vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
At the R-City Mall outlet, inspectors flagged the absence of a proper cleaning and sanitation schedule, pest infestation, inadequate pest-control records, failure to follow FIFO/FEFO practices and temperature-control requirements, missing food-grade certificates and gaps in food-handler hygiene, medical records, food/water testing and other food-safety documentation.
An unhygienic room in the eatery
A separate inspection at a Domino's outlet in Amravati threw up another red flag, 32 expired dough balls at the Tapdiya City Centre outlet on Badnera Road.
At the Karad outlet, operated by Sapphire Foods India Ltd, inspectors found no separate ovens for vegetarian and non-vegetarian pizzas and no segregation of baking pans. Sauce bottles and packets of chilli flakes and oregano kept for customers were also found without packing and expiry dates. The outlet's licence was suspended. The FDA seized 55 kg of frozen paneer worth Rs 17,600 from the Gorkshan Road outlet in Akola, suspecting it to be misbranded and substandard. Further legal action has been initiated.
In Mumbai, Mumbai Metro Dhaba and Gulsan The Punjabi Dhaba in Bhandup had their licences suspended over serious deficiencies. In Nashik, five establishments - including Hotel Sayali Restaurant & Bar, Hotel Chote Miyan, Mani Mark, Abhishek Bakery & Sweet and Mohanlal Namkeen - faced licence suspension. Daksh Hotel in Palghar was also suspended. The wider operation also saw 27 raids, with food products worth R35.77 lakh seized. The FDA has also seized 698 litres of suspected substandard milk in Raigad and 397.6 kg of suspected substandard cow ghee in Nashik.
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe warned that the department would continue taking stringent action against violations. "Playing with the health of the public will not be tolerated. If anyone is found adulterating food or involved in the sale, storage or manufacture of prohibited products, stricter action is being taken and will continue." The FDA has asked consumers to report suspected food-safety violations through its Food Safety Connect app, FoSCoS portal, Food & Drug Grievance Portal or its toll-free number 1800222365.
[popcorn number="August 11" desc="Day FDA inspected 104 chain restaurants" class="Default"]
