IIT Bombay canteens, eateries in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai face action as Maharashtra FDA continues crackdown

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration FDA has taken action against several food establishments after inspections revealed serious hygiene and licensing violations Among those facing action are two mess facilities at IIT Bombay eateries in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and other food businesses in parts of the stateAccording to an official statement following complaints FDA officials inspected three hostel mess facilities at IIT Bombay in Mumbais Powai areaTwo messes were found operating without mandatory food licences or registrations under food safety regulationsThe messes of Hostel No 1 and Hostel No 3 were found operating without the mandatory food licenceregistration and were directed to stop food business until compliance requirements are metA third mess operated by Annapurna Catering Services had a valid licence but was issued an improvement notice for deficiencies found during inspectionFour food licences suspended in MumbaiThe FDArsquos Mumbai division inspected 10 food establishments between August 4 and August 6Four establishments had their licences suspended due to serious violationsFive establishments were also issued stopbusiness notices while one received an improvement notice the statement saidAmong the establishments facing licence suspension was Eat Nino Pvt Ltd in Dadar where FDA inspectors found several hygienerelated violations The inspection revealed unhygienic conditions the presence of houseflies poor personal hygiene among food handlers inadequate cleaning and sanitisation practices and the absence of records for mandatory food and drinking water testing The establishment also lacked FOSTAC training and medical records of staff and was found to be not following Good Manufacturing Practices GMP and Good Hygiene Practices GHPAt Jai Maa Kali Dhaba in Andheri inspectors reported serious sanitation issues including food storage near a toilet area rusted and damaged storage racks an unhygienic kitchen and uncovered dough left exposed with flies found on itThe FDA also suspended the licence of A J Hospitality House of Maharashtra in Santacruz after finding a severe cockroach infestation in the kitchen and storage areas Officials also noted the use of nonfoodgrade packaging material newspapers being used for food packing absence of pestcontrol records peeling ceiling paint in the storage area and rusted cooking equipmentPunjab Grill in Navi Mumbai loses FSSAI licenceThe FDA statement further said that under the ldquoSafe Food Safe Maharashtrardquo campaign the FDArsquos Thane division inspected Punjab Grill in Navi MumbaiThe FDA officials found cockroach infestation in the kitchen poor hygiene conditions water accumulation and missing mandatory recordsThe establishmentrsquos FSSAI licence was suspended immediately under Section 323 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 it said63 hotels and restaurants inspectedThe FDA inspected 63 hotels restaurants dhabas and other food establishments across Maharashtra out of which 38 were issued improvement noticesThe statement said that seven food business licences were suspendedOfficials said serious violations related to hygiene food handling practices and record maintenance were found during inspectionsFood businesses in Amravati Nagpur also face FDA actionThe FDA suspended the FSSAI licences of Hotel Roshani in Amravati Roshni Sweet Mart in Amravati and The Hangry Panda Kitchen in NagpurThe action followed findings of poor hygiene inadequate sanitation facilities and violations of food safety regulationsCrackdown on banned food productsThe FDA conducted special operations against banned food products across MaharashtraDepartmentwise action included Mumbai FIR registered one person arrested and banned stock seized Konkan FIR registered one establishment sealed Pune Nine FIRs registered nine arrests and two vehicles seized Nashik FIR registered two arrests and one case filed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Two FIRs registered two arrests and one vehicle seized Nagpur Five FIRs registered and seven people arrestedFDA warns strict action will continueThe FDA has launched a major statewide crackdown against food safety violations carrying out 31 raids between August 4 and 6 2026During the action the department seized food products worth Rs 282 crore including banned food items such as gutkha and pan masala as well as other food products including milk products spices edible oils and bakery itemsThe FDA registered 19 FIRs arrested 22 people and seized banned food stocks worth Rs 2029 lakhApart from banned products the FDA seized other food items worth around Rs 262 crore weighing nearly 399 lakh kgThe action was carried out under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 with officials focusing on food businesses violating hygiene licensing and safety regulationsStrict action against compromising food quality public health MundheFDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the department would continue strict action against businesses compromising food quality and public healthHe urged citizens to report suspected cases of food adulteration or sale of banned products through the FoSCoS portal Food Safety Connect app the FDA grievance portal or the tollfree number 1800222365The FDA said ensuring safe and quality food for citizens remains its top priority and warned that violations would invite strict legal action