Mumbai: In a significant move to ensure public health and food safety, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licences of multiple eateries across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The action follows a comprehensive, statewide inspection drive on August 18, 2026, aimed at curbing widespread negligence in kitchen hygiene and food storage protocols.
During the surprise checks of 31 establishments, including hotels, restaurants, and dhabas, authorities uncovered alarming sanitary conditions. At one prominent eatery named Hotel Radha in Malad West, officials reported sightings of rats, including one near an open drainage line and another near the ceiling, alongside cockroaches found on dough-mixing equipment. The inspection further revealed grease deposits, stagnant water, and leaking drains, leading to the immediate suspension of the establishment’s licence under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Another case involved a restaurant Janta Tawa & Grill in Kurla West, where investigators cited inadequate temperature-controlled storage and a failure to protect raw meat and poultry from contamination. Furthermore, the establishment lacked essential documentation, including temperature records for refrigerated goods and lab reports for water and food products, which are mandatory for maintaining safety standards.
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In Navi Mumbai, the FDA suspended the registration of a canteen (Siddhivinayak Enterprises/Bilavana Rajendra Chavan) operating within a college campus in Kharghar. Officials noted that the facility, registered merely as a food vending establishment, was operating as a full-scale canteen without adequate ventilation, pest control, or proper segregation of raw materials.
Beyond these suspensions, the FDA’s broader crackdown has proven extensive. Across the state, 22 establishments were issued improvement notices, and authorities seized significant quantities of suspected substandard food products in Pune and Sangli, including khichdi masala, soya grits, and jaggery powder. Additionally, the department intensified its efforts against the distribution of banned tobacco products, registering eight FIRs and arresting 10 individuals during simultaneous operations in Mumbai, Konkan, Pune, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The FDA has clarified that the suspended licences will remain non-operational until the respective businesses rectify all identified deficiencies and their compliance is verified by competent authorities. This sustained enforcement reflects the administration’s mounting pressure on the hospitality sector to prioritize hygiene, as Mumbai’s diners continue to demand accountability and safer dining environments.