FDA suspends 105 licences, cancels seven eateries in Maharashtra after pre‑Deepavali checks

The Mumbai Food and Drugs Administration suspended the licences of 105 firms and cancelled the licences of seven eateries across Maharashtra after inspections on Nov 4‑5.

Action

In Mumbai, licences of 28 eateries were suspended and the licence of Rajdhani Biryani Centre was cancelled. Companies Blink Commerce and Zepto also had their licences suspended. Across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the FDA seized 2,396.6 kg of food worth ₹13.87 lakh, while a total of 39,485 kg of food products valued at ₹1.35 crore was taken from at least 69 establishments.

Violations

Inspectors found breaches in hygiene, food storage, manufacturing practices and licensing rules. No records of health checks or food‑handler training were present. The stock of Jetharam Chuniram Puniya (Malad) was seized for producing unlicensed, unlabeled food. Forty‑four kg of boondi laddus and kalakand from Jamnagari Sweets and Farsan (Vile Parle) were confiscated for using food colour beyond allowed limits.

Response

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the agency works to protect citizens from sub‑standard food and will not compromise on quality or health, irrespective of a business’s size or reputation. He warned sweet vendors and manufacturers to comply with rules before Deepavali and pledged continued checks.

Context

Pre‑festival inspections are common because demand for sweets and snacks spikes during Deepavali, raising the risk of unsafe food reaching consumers. The FDA’s crackdown aims to keep the food supply safe during this period.