The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licences of five outlets operating at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) premises after inspections reportedly found several violations of food safety and hygiene norms. The action is part of a wider inspection drive being conducted across Maharashtra to check compliance with food safety regulations.
The action comes as the FDA, under Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, has intensified inspections of restaurants, hotels, eateries and other food establishments across the state. According to a press note cited by PTI, the department inspected 45 establishments, issued improvement notices to 33 and conducted 25 raids. Overall, licences of 11 food establishments were suspended during the drive.
At the Pavilion, officials cited ice accumulation, unclean refrigerator components, inadequate segregation of food items, improper thawing of frozen food and shortcomings in cooling and storage practices.
At Oriental Swing, inspectors reportedly found an improperly calibrated refrigeration system, an unclean kitchen floor, damaged sections of the kitchen ceiling, inadequate sanitisation and deficiencies in temperature and oil-quality checks.
The statewide action also covered eateries including Lenexis Foodworks in Mahim, Café Cadell in Shivaji Park, China Town Fast Food Centre in Mulund, Morya Misal in Warje and Saoji Upahar Gruh in Nagpur.
The FDA's action underscores the importance of maintaining prescribed food safety and hygiene standards. The affected establishments will need to address the reported deficiencies and comply with regulatory requirements before their licences or registrations can be restored, subject to the department's further proceedings.
The inspections are part of the FDA's broader effort to strengthen monitoring of food establishments and ensure that operators follow prescribed safety standards. The reported violations cover several stages of food preparation, from the storage of raw materials and refrigeration to kitchen sanitation and the handling of cooked food.