The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food-business licences of four Domino’s Pizza outlets three in Mumbai and one in Malkapur, Satara after inspections found food-safety and hygiene violations.
The action followed a statewide drive on August 11 covering 104 outlets of major chains including Domino’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks and Monginis. The FDA said five establishments had their licences suspended, two were ordered to stop business and 95 received improvement notices.
The affected Domino’s outlets, operated by Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd, were flagged for problems including food storage, temperature monitoring, sanitation, pest control, food segregation and record-keeping.
The FDA, headed by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, has intensified inspections across Maharashtra, with officials saying the latest action is part of a wider food-safety crackdown.
What Inspectors Found
The four Domino’s outlets were not cited for identical shortcomings. At the Vile Parle West outlet, FDA officials flagged deficiencies involving the display of the FSSAI licence, potable water, food storage, pest control and hygiene facilities.
The outlet was directed to strengthen temperature monitoring of frozen food, separate food from non-food items, prevent rodents and pests, and provide adequate hand-washing and hygiene facilities. Repairs to parts of the premises, including the kitchen back door, flooring and chilling room, were also required.
At Borivali West, inspectors identified deficiencies involving storage, temperature monitoring, food testing, cleanliness and pest control. The outlet was directed to segregate raw and cooked food, as well as vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and to improve sanitisation of equipment and utensils. The Ghatkopar West outlet at R-City Mall was found deficient in cleanliness, sanitation scheduling and pest-control measures.
The FDA also flagged failures involving food-storage practices, temperature control and records relating to food safety, calibration, maintenance and testing. At Malkapur in Satara district, officials cited deficiencies in basic facilities, equipment, cleanliness and pest control and directed the outlet to improve storage systems and food testing.
The inspection findings underline that food safety extends beyond the final product served to a customer. Regulators also examine how ingredients are stored, whether raw and ready-to-eat foods are separated, whether equipment is cleaned, whether pests are controlled and whether businesses maintain records demonstrating that safety procedures are actually being followed.
Crackdown Extends Beyond Domino’s
The action against Domino’s is part of a wider enforcement campaign launched by the Maharashtra FDA after Tukaram Mundhe took charge as Commissioner in May. During the August 11 drive, officials inspected 104 chain restaurant establishments across the state.
Along with the five licence suspensions and 95 improvement notices, two establishments were ordered to stop business. The drive covered several major food-service brands, indicating that the regulatory action was not limited to Domino’s.
The latest inspections came soon after the FDA suspended the food licence of a Blink Commerce Private Limited facility in Mumbai’s Malad West. During an August 7 inspection, officials reportedly found cockroaches around fruit and vegetable stock, food stored directly on the floor, rusty racks, poorly maintained cold-storage areas, expired products and inadequate pest-control arrangements.
The facility was also accused of failing to properly follow FIFO and FEFO food-storage systems. Its licence was suspended under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The scale of the broader campaign is significant. Between May 25 and July 31, the FDA reportedly inspected 3,137 hotels, restaurants, eateries and other food establishments in Mumbai, issued 764 improvement notices and suspended 165 licences. It also seized or destroyed around 28.66 lakh kg of food products valued at approximately ₹55.72 crore, according to figures attributed to FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.
The FDA’s action also comes with an important legal distinction. While some headlines and social-media posts have described the Domino’s outlets as “sealed”, the regulatory action reported by the FDA is the suspension of their food-business licences.
A licence can be suspended under Section 32 of the Food Safety and Standards Act when a food business fails to comply with an improvement notice, while immediate suspension is also possible where the designated officer considers it necessary in the interest of public health.
What Experts Say About Food Safety
Food-safety experts say regular inspections must be backed by consistent monitoring and corrective action. Restaurants should maintain strict temperature controls, separate raw and cooked foods, ensure routine cleaning and pest control, and keep accurate safety records.
They also stress that food handlers must follow proper hygiene practices and that businesses should treat compliance as an everyday responsibility rather than something addressed only when inspections are announced.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Food safety is not a luxury or a matter of brand reputation it is a basic public-health responsibility. Customers walking into a familiar restaurant should be able to trust that the food they receive has been stored, prepared and handled under safe conditions.
The Maharashtra FDA’s intensified inspections are therefore important, particularly if they are carried out consistently across large chains, independent eateries, cloud kitchens, warehouses and quick-commerce facilities.
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