The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licence of Mumbai’s iconic Cafe Mondegar in Colaba after an inspection found several food safety, hygiene and structural deficiencies. The action, announced on September 15, followed an inspection at the nearly century-old establishment on September 12, during which officials flagged unsafe food-temperature controls, improper thawing and cooling practices, inadequate drainage, damp flooring and insufficient equipment sanitisation.
The FDA also suspended the licences of Maharashtra Biryani Centre in Kandivali East, Tribhuvan Dairy Farm in Ghatkopar West and Mahavir Cashew & Foods Pvt Ltd in Ghatkopar East after separate inspections found violations of mandatory hygiene requirements. The action is part of a wider festive-season food safety drive led by Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, with the department saying enforcement will continue against establishments that breach food safety rules.
Safety Lapses Flagged
At Cafe Mondegar, located at Metro House in Colaba and established in 1932, inspectors identified multiple shortcomings linked to food handling and sanitation. According to the FDA, hot food was not being maintained above the prescribed 60°C, while cold storage was not maintained below 5°C. Officials also found improper thawing of food items and inadequate rapid cooling of cooked food, practices that can increase the risk of bacterial growth when food is not handled correctly.
The inspection also identified dampness-related damage to the flooring and inadequate drainage near the food preparation area, which the FDA said could create a risk of cross-contamination. Some equipment was reportedly not being cleaned and sanitised adequately. These findings formed the basis for the suspension under hygiene and sanitation requirements prescribed for food businesses. Cafe Mondegar’s management had not issued a detailed public response in the reports available at the time of publication; one report said the restaurant declined to comment as its manager had left for the day.
Wider Festival Crackdown
The action against Cafe Mondegar comes amid a broader food safety campaign being conducted across Maharashtra ahead of the festive season. In Greater Mumbai, the FDA inspected 38 food establishments between September 11 and 14 and collected 47 samples, including milk, khoya, ghee and sweets, for laboratory analysis. The department also reported suspending licences of nine establishments in the wider Mumbai drive for deficiencies under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The campaign extends beyond restaurants to dairy outlets, sweet shops, bakeries and other businesses where demand for food products rises during festivals. Across Maharashtra, the FDA said it seized more than 4,138 kg of dairy products and sweets, along with 30 litres of milk, with the seized material valued at around ₹15.58 lakh.
The department has also conducted awareness initiatives with Ganesh mandals and groups preparing modaks, focusing on hygiene, safe food preparation and preventing cross-contamination.
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has said the department will continue strict enforcement against businesses that compromise food safety. He stated that “playing with the health of consumers and the public will not be tolerated under any circumstances”, while stressing that legal action would continue against establishments involved in selling or storing expired or adulterated food products.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Cafe Mondegar has long been part of Mumbai’s cultural landscape, making the suspension particularly notable. Yet an establishment’s history or popularity cannot replace the need for basic food safety, especially when the standards involved are designed to protect customers from preventable health risks.
At the same time, regulatory enforcement works best when it is transparent, consistent and accompanied by a clear opportunity for businesses to understand the deficiencies, correct them and return to compliance. For consumers, the episode is also a reminder that familiar names are not a substitute for safe food practices. As the FDA’s wider inspections continue, how can regulators and food businesses work together to make food safety a consistent everyday practice rather than a seasonal concern?
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