The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licence of a Domino’s Pizza outlet in Parel and revoked the licence of Maaz Food Parcel and Catering in Bhandup West, Mumbai, following inspections that reportedly revealed serious food safety and hygiene violations. The action, announced on October 13, 2026, followed checks that found improper storage and handling of food, inadequate sanitation and other breaches of food safety requirements.
At the Domino’s outlet, operated by Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd, officials found vegetarian and non-vegetarian food stored together in the same deep freezer, while chicken and paneer were reportedly prepared on the same oven or grill. The establishment had previously received an improvement notice in August but allegedly failed to rectify the deficiencies. At the Bhandup catering unit, inspectors found cockroaches, clogged drains, unlabelled prepared food and other hygiene lapses.
The FDA also raised concerns about the use of fat spread when the menu mentioned butter. The enforcement action is part of Maharashtra’s broader efforts to improve food safety and hold food businesses accountable for maintaining hygienic conditions. The department’s findings highlight the importance of ensuring that food served to customers meets prescribed safety standards, irrespective of a business’s size or popularity.
Food Safety Violations
The Domino’s Pizza outlet under scrutiny is located at Rangoli Time Complex on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road in Parel and is operated by Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. According to reports citing the FDA, the establishment had been inspected on August 11, following which officials issued an improvement notice directing it to address identified deficiencies. However, a follow-up inspection on October 9 found that several requirements remained unmet.
The most concerning findings involved the storage and preparation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Officials found both categories stored together in a deep freezer, while chicken and paneer were being cooked on the same oven or grill. Such practices raise concerns about cross-contamination, particularly for customers who follow vegetarian diets or have specific dietary requirements. The FDA also noted that the outlet had failed to produce conformity reports for food-contact packaging materials and records relating to the maintenance of essential equipment.
These documents help establish whether packaging and equipment meet applicable safety requirements and are maintained appropriately. Following the inspection, the outlet’s licence was suspended on October 12. A separate inspection at Maaz Food Parcel and Catering, located on LBS Marg in Sonapur, Bhandup West, reportedly uncovered several additional violations. Inspectors found cockroaches in the kitchen, clogged and unclean drains, prepared food without labels and artificial food colouring in the kitchen. Officials also alleged that the establishment used fat spread while describing butter on its menu, potentially misleading customers about the product being served.
Other reported lapses included the absence of separate chopping boards for vegetarian and non-vegetarian ingredients and food handlers working without aprons or gloves. The FDA revoked the catering unit’s licence on October 13. These findings underline how shortcomings in food storage, pest control, sanitation and transparent menu descriptions can affect consumer confidence and potentially compromise food safety.
Wider Crackdown Context
The latest action forms part of a wider enforcement drive by the Maharashtra FDA to check compliance with food safety requirements across restaurants, catering businesses and other food establishments. The action also included Mughal Dhaba in Kurla West, whose registration was suspended following a complaint about stale food in an order placed through the food delivery platform Zomato. According to reports, an inspection on October 8 found clogged drains containing food waste and stagnant dirty water. The FDA’s action against the three Mumbai establishments demonstrates that inspections can be prompted by routine enforcement as well as consumer complaints.
It also highlights the importance of maintaining hygiene standards throughout the food preparation process, rather than treating compliance as a formality. Under India’s Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, food businesses are required to follow prescribed safety and hygiene requirements. Depending on the nature of the violations and the regulatory process, authorities can take action against establishments that fail to comply. An improvement notice is intended to give a food business an opportunity to correct identified deficiencies; continued non-compliance can lead to stronger enforcement measures.
The latest developments also come after an earlier Maharashtra FDA drive against major food chains in August, when licences of four Domino’s outlets and one Pizza Hut outlet were suspended over reported hygiene and food safety lapses. That action included concerns about pest control, cleanliness, food storage and monitoring practices. While the latest cases concern specific establishments, they raise broader questions about the consistency of food safety checks, the responsibility of operators to supervise their outlets and the effectiveness of corrective measures.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Food safety is not merely a regulatory requirement; it is a matter of public health, consumer trust and basic responsibility. People who order a meal from a well-known restaurant or a neighbourhood catering service should be able to expect that the food has been stored, prepared and served under hygienic conditions. Businesses, in turn, have a responsibility to protect their customers through regular inspections, staff training, transparent menus, proper sanitation and prompt action whenever deficiencies are identified.
The FDA’s intervention is an important reminder that reputation and popularity cannot replace accountability. At the same time, enforcement should be consistent, transparent and focused on lasting improvements rather than temporary compliance following inspections.
Also Read: Is Your Milk Safe? Detergent Found In Samples As Maharashtra FDA Busts Adulteration Network
