The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), headed by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, has suspended the food licence of Mumbai’s iconic 122-year-old Irani cafe Kyani & Co after an inspection revealed multiple hygiene and food-safety violations.
Officials found finding cats, rat droppings, live flies and dead cockroaches in areas used for food preparation and storage, according to PTI.
The action formed part of the FDA’s statewide festive-season enforcement drive carried out from September 23 to 27.
An inspection of Kyani & Co in Mumbai’s Kalbadevi area revealed several hygiene-related violations. The observed cats on the premises, along with rat droppings, live flies and dead cockroaches in areas where food was prepared and stored.
Inspectors also came across blood collected inside a refrigerator and an open sewage manhole in the food-processing area, according to the FDA.
The five-day enforcement campaign resulted in the suspension of licences or registration certificates of 30 establishments, the FDA said. Of these, 13 were in Mumbai, six in the Konkan division, eight in the Pune division and three in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division.
Other Mumbai establishments were also penalised during the drive. At Colaba Sweet Mart, inspectors observed live cockroaches, lizards, flies and larvae. The establishment also lacked mandatory pest-control arrangements, medical fitness records for staff and personal protective equipment.
Arun Vilas Farsan in Dharavi and Ruchi Veg Restaurant in Parel were among the other establishments whose licences were suspended over hygiene and sanitation violations, as per PTI.
The FDA suspended the licence of Daffodils Fast Food Inn in Vile Parle after an inspection highlighted severely unhygienic conditions. Officials noted dirty refrigeration equipment, temperature displays that were not functioning and food being stored with workers’ personal belongings.
EverSub India Pvt Ltd, which runs a Subway outlet in Lower Parel, also had its licence suspended. The inspection detected a defective refrigerator, a mould-like layer, an unpleasant odour and live cockroaches.
Legal proceedings were also initiated against QSR Brands India, Royal China, Tiffin, United Bakery & Stores, Shree Padmavati Enterprises and Hotel Purandar Vilas for alleged breaches of food-safety regulations.
The statewide drive resulted in the seizure of more than 50,000 kg of food products valued at ₹1.19 crore, according to the FDA.
Officials seized 6,366.88 kg of food worth ₹28.54 lakh across Pune, Kolhapur and Solapur. The seized items included khoa, paneer, ghee, cream, sweets, shrikhand, lassi, coconut oil, farsan, potato wafers and bhadang. Some of the products were suspected of being adulterated, substandard, unsafe or carrying incorrect labels.
The Konkan division accounted for another 23,806.90 kg of seized food products valued at approximately ₹39.99 lakh. The items included sev, chivda, gathiya, namkeen, wafers, oils, spices, dry fruits, tea, khoa, sauces, noodles, raw milk and sweets.
The FDA also conducted inspections at 26 establishments across the Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur divisions to check the storage, sale and distribution of prohibited food products.
“In Jalgaon, 7,749.9 kg of food products worth ₹4.28 lakh were seized, while in Nagpur division food products worth ₹32.74 lakh were seized or destroyed for unhygienic storage, adulteration, substandard quality, labelling defects and operation without a licence,” it said.
“Banned stock worth ₹30.63 lakh was seized, 22 FIRs were registered, 30 people were arrested, three establishments were sealed and three vehicles worth ₹14.80 lakh were seized,” as per the statement.
The department also carried out seizures of milk and dairy products at multiple locations. These included 385 kg of khoa and 19 kg of white butter in Pune, as well as 909 kg of khoa and 349 kg of paneer from a dairy in Khed.
FDA Commissioner said authorities would maintain strict enforcement and pursue legal action against establishments involved in selling or storing expired or tampered food products, as well as food prepared or handled in unhygienic conditions.
