In a significant food safety enforcement drive, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licences of canteens operating at five prominent clubs in Mumbai after inspections allegedly uncovered serious hygiene and food safety violations.
The affected establishments include the Cricket Club of India (CCI), MIG Cricket Club, Juhu Gymkhana, Willingdon Sports Club and another club canteen operated by the same catering entity. Officials said inspections found pest infestation, poor sanitation, expired food items, improper food storage, blocked drains and unhygienic food handling practices, prompting immediate suspension of food business operations until the deficiencies are rectified.
The action forms part of Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe’s wider crackdown on food establishments violating the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. While the clubs themselves remain open, their kitchens cannot resume operations until they comply with prescribed food safety norms and receive regulatory clearance. Authorities have maintained that the campaign is aimed at protecting public health, regardless of an establishment’s reputation or clientele.
Serious Hygiene Lapses Found
The suspensions follow surprise inspections conducted by Maharashtra FDA officials as part of an intensified drive to improve food safety standards across Mumbai. According to inspection reports, officials documented multiple violations that they said posed a risk to public health.
These included active cockroach and fly infestations in food preparation areas, fungal growth on vegetables, expired food products, condensation water dripping onto stored food inside cold rooms, blocked drainage systems, poor waste management and inadequate segregation of raw and cooked food. Inspectors also observed a lack of personal hygiene among food handlers, insufficient pest control measures and failure to maintain mandatory food safety records.
Among the affected establishments, the Cricket Club of India (CCI), one of Mumbai’s oldest and most prestigious sporting institutions, drew particular attention. Officials reportedly found live cockroaches in kitchen areas, spoiled vegetables, over-ripened mushrooms and expired food products during inspections conducted on July 27.
The Maharashtra FDA said these conditions violated mandatory hygiene requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Act and justified the suspension of food business licences. Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has repeatedly emphasised that food safety regulations apply equally to all establishments, irrespective of their stature or membership profile.
Officials have also clarified that the suspension applies only to food service operations and not to the functioning of the clubs themselves. The affected kitchens may resume operations only after correcting the identified deficiencies and successfully clearing a fresh inspection by the regulator.
Part of Wider Enforcement Drive
The latest action is the newest chapter in Maharashtra FDA’s broader enforcement campaign against food establishments that fail to comply with prescribed hygiene standards.
Since taking charge as Commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe has overseen inspections across restaurants, hospitals, government canteens and recreational clubs, signalling a stricter approach towards food safety enforcement.
In recent weeks, regulatory action has also been initiated against several well-known establishments, including K. Rustom Ice Cream, Shalimar Restaurant, Noor Mohammadi Hotel, Rehmania Restaurant, the KEM Hospital canteen and the canteen at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters after inspections reportedly uncovered hygiene deficiencies ranging from pest infestations and expired food products to poor sanitation and inadequate cold-chain management.
Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, every licensed food business operator is required to maintain hygienic premises, ensure proper storage and handling of food, implement effective pest control systems and maintain documentation demonstrating compliance with food safety regulations.
Authorities may suspend or cancel licences if violations are considered serious enough to endanger public health. Before operations can resume, establishments are generally required to eliminate all identified deficiencies, improve sanitation standards, train food handlers in hygienic practices and undergo a reinspection by the FDA.
Public health experts have long cautioned that poor food hygiene can significantly increase the risk of bacterial contamination, food poisoning and other food-borne illnesses, particularly in large commercial kitchens serving high volumes of consumers. The Maharashtra FDA has indicated that inspections will continue across Mumbai to ensure that all food businesses, irrespective of their prominence, meet the standards expected under Indian food safety law.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Food safety is not merely a matter of regulatory compliance it is a matter of public trust and public health. Every consumer has the right to expect that the food served in restaurants, clubs, hospitals or public institutions is prepared in clean and hygienic conditions. Regulatory action against reputed establishments demonstrates that no organisation should be exempt from accountability when public well-being is at stake.
At the same time, enforcement should remain transparent, evidence-based and fair, allowing establishments an opportunity to rectify deficiencies while ensuring that consumer safety remains the foremost priority. Sustained inspections, better hygiene training for food handlers and greater public awareness can together build a stronger culture of food safety rather than relying solely on punitive action.
Also read: Bihar Teachers’ Recruitment Paper Leak: Doctor Accused of Extorting ₹1.2 Crore from 30 Candidates
