FDA cancels food licences of six Mumbai brands, 12 in Pune, including Zepto and IRCTC kitchen

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has taken major action in Mumbai over food quality and hygiene. After finding lapses in cleanliness and rules during inspections, the licences of six major Mumbai brands have been suspended, including Zepto's Malad centre. Action was also taken against 12 brands in Pune.

In a press note issued on September 8, the Maharashtra FDA said officers inspected several locations. Serious lapses were found in cleanliness, cooking methods, temperature control and staff hygiene at multiple sites, leading to licences being cancelled outright.

IRCTC's base kitchens and food plazas, which serve food to railway passengers, were also on the FDA's radar. A total of five locations were inspected. Among them, the food licence of R. K. Associates and Hoteliers Private Limited in Kurla West was suspended, while the remaining four locations were issued notices for improvement. The inspection found cockroaches moving around the Kurla base kitchen, food being kept in the open, food being prepared near garbage, and the kitchen in a very poor state.

Serious lapses were also found by the FDA at the premises of Drogheria Sellers Pvt. Ltd, Zepto's outlet in Malad West. The inspection found large numbers of cockroaches, a poor cold chain, a dirty drain and lapses in staff personal hygiene. The biggest issue was found in the temperature of perishable food items - items such as milk, cheese and curd were being kept at fourteen to fifteen degrees Celsius, when they are required to be kept at two to six degrees Celsius. Following this, the FDA immediately suspended the licence of this Zepto centre and also barred it from sale, storage, delivery and fulfilling online orders.

Kharghar's Mateshwari Milk has also been hit. Here, rules relating to milk temperature control, cleanliness, pest control and staff medical checks were not being followed. According to the FDA, there was a mismatch between the information given to customers and the details written on the milk tankers. It was also found that pasteurised milk was being supplied despite there being no pasteurisation facility. A hearing was held on September 7, after which the licence was suspended.

Three food units at the ISKCON campus in Juhu also did not escape FDA action. Records of regular water quality testing were found missing, and raw and cooked food was found stored incorrectly. The inspection also found signs of pest infestation, lapses in cleanliness, and no records of staff medical checks and training. Following this, the licences of all three food units were suspended.

The FDA also took action on food safety in Pune division, where a total of 12 establishments faced action. Among them, Aditi Veg was operating without a valid food licence and was ordered to shut down. The licences of 11 other establishments were suspended, including Kaka Vada Pav, Crystal Gourmet, Gurukripa Chicken Plant, Hotel Yashraj, Shri Ganesh Hotel, Hotel Sahyadri, Savangiri Loni Dosa, Golden Chaha, Jackson Dairy and Khada Vada Pav Centre.

The FDA has made clear that all food business establishments must follow food safety and hygiene rules. Action will be taken against any lapse in food quality, whether at a hotel, a dairy, an online delivery warehouse or a railway base kitchen. The FDA has indicated that inspections and action against such establishments will continue in the coming days.