Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of 13 establishments, including a McDonald’s outlet in Colaba, after inspections found serious food safety and hygiene violations. The action followed a special drive covering 89 hotels, restaurants and dhabas across the state. The FDA issued improvement notices to 71 establishments and suspended 13 licences.
At McDonald’s Colaba, inspectors found a live cockroach infestation, poor pest control, rotting food waste and unresolved food-safety deficiencies. The action comes amid a wider crackdown led by FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, who has defended immediate suspensions where establishments pose a potential public-health risk.
McDonald’s Colaba: 18 Of 20 Deficiencies Remained Unresolved
The McDonald’s Family Restaurant kiosk at Metro House in Colaba, operated by Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd, was reinspected on August 19 after the outlet had submitted a 148-page compliance report to the FDA. According to the FDA, 18 of the 20 deficiencies identified earlier had not been rectified.
Inspectors reported live cockroaches in the kitchen, missing pest-control measures and rotting food waste near food storage and preparation areas. They also flagged refrigeration equipment that was not properly calibrated, potentially affecting the safe storage temperature of high-risk food.
The inspection also raised concerns about food handling. Officials reportedly observed employees handling ready-to-eat food without washing their hands after touching dirty footwear and cleaning cloths. The FDA further questioned the labelling and use of a processed non-dairy preparation called “GO Cheese SAUCE”, amid concerns about how products were represented to consumers.
These findings are significant because food safety does not only depend on the quality of ingredients but also on storage temperatures, pest control, hand hygiene, cleaning practices and accurate labelling.
Radio Club, Khar Gymkhana Also Faces Action
The crackdown extended beyond the McDonald’s outlet. At the Bombay Presidency Radio Club, an August 19 inspection reportedly found live flies across kitchen areas and dead cockroaches. The establishment recorded a 47% non-compliance rate.
Officials also flagged issues including food stored on the floor, poor waste management, inadequate refrigeration, cleaning chemicals kept close to food and other sanitation concerns. The FDA ordered the club to stop the purchase, sale and distribution of food during the suspension period.
Khar Gymkhana also faced action after officials identified inadequate storage, poor cleanliness in food-preparation areas, improper segregation of raw and prepared food and improper thawing of frozen food.
Novaara in Malad and Status Restaurant in Nariman Point were among other Mumbai establishments facing suspension. Outside Mumbai, establishments in places including Nagpur, Nashik and Amravati were also targeted during the wider enforcement drive.
Why Is The FDA Intensifying Inspections?
The latest action is part of a broader food-safety enforcement campaign after Tukaram Mundhe took charge as Maharashtra FDA Commissioner in May. The department says it has been carrying out large-scale inspections to identify establishments failing to meet statutory food-safety requirements. In the latest special drive, 89 hotels, restaurants and dhabas were inspected, with 71 receiving improvement notices and 13 having their licences suspended.
Mundhe has defended the FDA’s decision to suspend licences immediately where there may be a public-health risk. He has said the department is acting within the law and due process, citing Section 32 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. In an earlier statement about the wider crackdown, he said the FDA had conducted more than 3,100 inspections over two months, with around 165 licences suspended immediately and more than 750 establishments receiving improvement notices.
What Should Consumers Look For?
The crackdown also highlights the role consumers can play in food safety. Mundhe has advised people eating outside to pay attention to the cleanliness of an establishment and check whether it is properly licensed or registered. Consumers should also be cautious about visibly poor food-storage practices, pest infestations, unclean kitchens and products whose labels do not clearly describe their ingredients.
For restaurants and food businesses, the episode is a reminder that compliance cannot be treated as a one-time exercise carried out only when inspections are expected. Maintaining clean food-preparation areas, controlling pests, monitoring refrigeration temperatures, separating raw and cooked food, ensuring workers follow proper hand hygiene and providing accurate product information are ongoing responsibilities.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Consumers should not have to choose between convenience, affordability and basic food safety. Regulatory enforcement is necessary when businesses fail to protect public health, but it should remain transparent, evidence-based and consistent across large chains, clubs, restaurants and smaller establishments alike.
At the same time, businesses should treat inspections as an opportunity to strengthen everyday practices rather than simply meet the minimum requirement. For consumers, awareness and responsible reporting can complement official action. Do you think regular, surprise food-safety inspections should become more widespread across India’s restaurants and food outlets?
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