14 July,2026 11:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The action covered milk and dairy products, banned tobacco-based food items, restaurants, hotels and other food establishments across Maharashtra. Pic/FDA
Days after Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the license of K Rustom & Co in Churchgate, it has taken action on Mumbai's iconic Noor Mohammadi, Shalimar and Rahmania restaurant over alleged hygiene lapses, officials said on Tuesday.
The FDA's Mumbai division suspended the food licences of three well-known restaurants after inspections revealed serious hygiene and food safety violations.
Shalimar Hospitality Pvt Ltd, Bhendi Bazaar
The licence of the establishment was suspended after officials found 25 major violations during a re-inspection.
The issues included wet and slippery kitchen floors, lack of raw material records, absence of drinking water testing reports, missing oil quality records, poor separation between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items and open windows without insect protection.
Noor Mohammadi Hotel, Bhendi Bazaar
The licence was suspended after officials found unhygienic conditions, including thick oil deposits on kitchen floors, insect entry points, poor storage of raw materials, lack of supplier records, use of old utensils and missing water quality testing records.
Rahmania Restaurant, Umar Khadi
The establishment faced immediate licence suspension after officials found inadequate storage arrangements, lack of pest-control measures, damaged equipment, poor maintenance of walls and ceilings, and absence of food quality testing records.
The FDA also issued a notice to Amravati Darbar in Amravati after finding that it was operating without a valid food licence.
The FDA has launched a major statewide enforcement drive against food safety violations, seizing food items and related materials worth Rs 1.68 crore during inspections conducted on July 13, an official statement said on Tuesday.
The action covered milk and dairy products, banned tobacco-based food items, restaurants, hotels and other food establishments across Maharashtra.
The FDA carried out eight major raids and inspected 32 hotels, restaurants and eateries, issuing improvement notices to eight establishments and suspending licences of four food businesses.
During a special inspection campaign targeting milk and dairy products, FDA officials raided a warehouse operated by M/s Sai Cargo Movers at Purna village in Bhiwandi, Thane district.
Officials found 22,100 kg of Spray Dried Skimmed Milk Powder stored at the facility. The stock was valued at around Rs 1 crore.
The FDA suspected that the product was misbranded and sub-standard. Samples were collected and sent for laboratory testing. Further legal action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, after receiving the test reports.
The department said strict action would continue against those compromising public health through adulterated or unsafe food products.
The FDA also intensified action against banned food products such as gutkha and flavoured tobacco.
In Amravati, officials seized banned pan masala and scented tobacco worth Rs 55 lakh, including a truck allegedly used for transportation.
The seized items included:
Pan Masala worth Rs 31.20 lakh
Scented tobacco worth Rs 7.80 lakh
Truck worth Rs 16 lakh
A case was registered at Tivsa Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The FDA also conducted raids in other parts of Maharashtra:
- In Virar (East), banned food products worth Rs 1.96 lakh were seized and a case was registered.
- In Mira Road, banned products worth Rs 2,857 were confiscated and legal proceedings were initiated.
- In Raigad, officials seized banned food items worth around Rs 9.90 lakh during a joint operation with Navi Mumbai Crime Branch.
The FDA said investigations are underway and further action will follow.
Under the "Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra" campaign, FDA officials from the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division seized 638 litres/kg of suspected and mislabelled food products from Latur and Dharashiv districts.
In Latur, officials seized:
- 160 kg of mislabelled Sonpapdi worth Rs 25,600
- 428 litres of suspected Mango Fruit drink worth Rs 13,910
In Dharashiv, officials seized 50 litres of Mango Drink after investigating a suspected food poisoning incident.
The total value of these seized products was estimated at Rs 42,010.
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the department would continue strict action against businesses violating food safety rules.
Citizens can report complaints regarding food quality through the FoSCoS Portal, the Food Safety Connect app, or the toll-free number 1800-222-365.
