Maharashtra FDA Suspends Licenses of 11 Food Outlets in Statewide Safety Crackdown
Published on 08/13/2026 at 07:07 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the licenses of 11 food establishments on August 13, 2026, following a month-long inspection drive targeting hygiene and food safety standards. The action affected several major quick-service restaurant chains, including four Domino's outlets and one Pizza Hut location, after officials identified significant compliance failures — a reminder to UK employers with Indian operations of the strict regulatory environment governing food businesses abroad.
Statewide Inspection Drive
The suspensions stem from the "Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra" campaign, which ran from July 10 to August 11, 2026. During the 32-day period, the FDA, led by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, inspected 104 major chain outlets across the state. The drive resulted in 95 improvement notices and the immediate closure of two establishments.
In a broader sweep covering 120 hotels and other food businesses, the agency issued 54 notices and suspended 11 licenses in total. Regional actions included five suspensions in Nashik and the closure of a hotel in Palghar, which recorded a 45% non-compliance rate with safety norms.
The same pattern plays out in the UK, where inspectors routinely flag missing risk assessments and hygiene gaps at food businesses. A free toolkit with 41 ready-to-use templates and checklists helps you document hazards properly before an inspection finds them for you. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit
Major Chain Violations
The FDA specifically targeted four Domino's outlets in Mumbai and Satara. The affected Mumbai branches are in Vile Parle West, Borivali West, and the R-City Mall in Ghatkopar West, with the fourth outlet in Malkapur, Satara.
Inspectors reported breaches of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations, including:
- Inadequate pest control measures and hygiene protocols
- Improper food storage and failure to monitor temperatures
- Lack of required FSSAI license displays and water quality records
- Non-compliance with Schedule 4 hygiene standards
Official reports indicated varying levels of non-compliance among the penalized stores. The Borivali West outlet recorded rates as high as 54% in some reports, while the Malkapur production unit faced a 47% rating.
In Karad, the FDA suspended the licenses of two Sapphire Foods outlets, including a Pizza Hut branch, over cleanliness and storage issues. In Amravati, inspectors also seized 32 pieces of expired dough balls valued at approximately Rs 256.
Broader Regulatory Crackdown
The enforcement actions extend beyond restaurant chains. The FDA reported seizing 698 liters of milk, 397.6 kilograms of ghee, 55 kilograms of paneer, and 1,345 kilograms of jaggery during the drive. Total seized goods were valued at approximately Rs 25.97 lakh, leading to 12 FIRs and 15 arrests.
Regulatory pressure has also reached digital commerce platforms. On August 7, 2026, the FDA suspended the license of a Blinkit store in Malad West following reports of a cockroach infestation and expired products. Swiggy Instamart has reportedly received nine FSSAI notices related to compliance issues.
Whether you run a single site or a national chain, staying compliant with health and safety law requires the right documentation. Over 37,000 UK businesses already use this free toolkit covering risk assessments, fire safety, first aid and more — so you can meet your legal duties without the guesswork. Get the free Health & Safety Toolkit
In related developments, the FSSAI recently seized 18,000 boxes of Diageo liquor in Bengaluru, valued at roughly $1.6 million, citing concerns over plastic bottle markings. Diageo has since challenged a separate FSSAI ban on its rum products in the Bombay High Court, asserting the action lacked due process.
Furthermore, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) issued a warning on August 12, 2026, against the unapproved infertility drug Enclomiphene. The agency directed state authorities to identify and take action against manufacturers and distributors of the drug, which has not been cleared for marketing in the country.
