The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of 25 food establishments and four edible oil and spice manufacturing units after inspections revealed violations of food safety and hygiene requirements.
Six Domino’s Pizza outlets in Pune division were among the establishments facing licence suspension. The action also covered food businesses in Jalna and Parbhani in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division.
The FDA seized approximately 81,330 kg of suspected substandard, adulterated or mislabelled food products valued at ₹1.73 crore from 37 establishments across six divisions.
Cockroaches, fungal contamination found
Inspections uncovered several hygiene violations, including live cockroaches, fungal contamination, unclean utensils, improper food storage and inadequate segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
The FDA said the establishments had violated Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, which prescribes hygiene and sanitary requirements for food businesses.
Seven establishments in Mumbai division and two in Konkan had their licences suspended. Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar divisions accounted for eight establishments each.
Separately, officials issued a closure notice to a sweet manufacturer in Mumbai after finding violations involving the condition of its manufacturing premises and hygiene practices.
Seized stock sent for laboratory testing
The seized products included edible oil, chilli and turmeric powder, areca nut, dry fruits, sabudana, bhagar, rajgira, tea powder and sweets.
Samples of the seized stock have been sent for laboratory analysis. The FDA said further action under the Food Safety and Standards Act would follow after the test reports are received.
The crackdown highlights the regulator’s focus on enforcing hygiene standards and preventing the sale of potentially unsafe food. The laboratory findings will be crucial in determining the next steps against the establishments concerned.