The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licences of 10 establishments in Mumbai after inspections found serious food-safety and hygiene violations, including pest infestations at a Swiggy Instamart dark store and sanitation problems at an Amazon-linked warehouse. The action was taken during a statewide festive-season enforcement drive between September 17 and 20, as authorities intensified checks on food businesses ahead of the festive period.
At Swiggy Instamart’s Ballard Estate facility, operated by Swinsta ENT Private Limited, FDA officials reported sighting a live rat in the food-handling area, rodent-gnawed rice bags, droppings, cockroaches on food articles and flies inside storage carts. The Amazon-linked facility in Kandivli, operated by Acculogicx Supply Chain Solutions, was flagged for stagnant wastewater, inadequate segregation of food and non-food items, sanitation deficiencies and poor storage practices. Across Maharashtra, the FDA said it seized or destroyed about 32,023 kg/litres of suspected adulterated, substandard or unhygienic food worth ₹1.36 crore.
Live Rat, Rodent-Damaged Rice Bags Found
The inspection at the Swiggy Instamart dark store in Ballard Estate uncovered multiple conditions that the FDA said posed contamination risks. Officials reportedly found several 10-kg rice bags gnawed open by rodents, with grains scattered across contaminated flooring. Rodent droppings were recorded in storage areas, while inspectors reported a large cockroach infestation on food products. Live flies were also found inside food-storage carts, alongside dead insects, dirt and heavy ice accumulation inside refrigeration units.
Reports further stated that an unclean functioning toilet was located close to the food-storage area, while a dirty cleaning cloth was found in proximity to open food. Based on these findings, the FDA ordered the immediate suspension of Swinsta ENT’s food licence. The regulator also suspended the licence of Acculogicx Supply Chain Solutions, which operates an Amazon-linked warehouse in Kandivli. Inspectors there reported stagnant wastewater, drainage and sanitation deficiencies, inadequate segregation between food materials and non-food items, and cleaning chemicals stored close to food packaging. Missing temperature records for perishable products and shortcomings concerning protective equipment and medical documentation for food handlers were also reported.
10 Mumbai Establishments Face Action
Swiggy Instamart and the Amazon-linked warehouse were among 10 Mumbai establishments whose food licences were suspended. Other establishments named by the FDA include Sadguru Sweets and Farsan Mart in Malad, Suleman Usman Mithaiwala on Mohammed Ali Road, Jain Sweet & Bhelpuri House LLP and Nice Enterprises in Chembur, among others. The Mumbai action is part of a wider enforcement campaign covering food establishments and suppliers across Maharashtra.
During the latest drive, the FDA reported seizing or destroying approximately 32,023 kg/litres of food stock valued at ₹1.36 crore. The products included khoya, mawa, peda, ghee, edible oil, barfi, dried fruits, jaggery, sweets and other dairy products. The department also reported a seizure of 1,868 kg of turmeric powder worth ₹6.53 lakh in Miraj. Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has said the inspections are data-driven and based on surveillance and identified risks rather than random targeting. He has also stressed that food safety cannot be compromised, while acknowledging the need to balance public health requirements with the livelihoods of businesses and food workers.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Food safety is not simply a regulatory requirement; it is a basic matter of public trust. Consumers ordering groceries or prepared food should reasonably expect that products have been stored, handled and transported in conditions that minimise contamination risks. The reported findings also highlight why food-safety standards must apply consistently across large delivery networks, warehouses, restaurants, sweet shops and smaller establishments.
Strong inspections and timely enforcement can help protect consumers, while businesses should be given clear standards, proper guidance and a fair opportunity to address deficiencies where appropriate. The responsibility ultimately extends across the food chain, from storage and pest control to refrigeration, sanitation and staff training. As Maharashtra continues its inspections, what more can regulators and food businesses do together to make food safety a consistent everyday practice rather than a festive-season priority?
