महाराष्ट्र एफडीएने तीव्र अस्वच्छतेच्या कारणावरून कुलाब्यातील...

By GT24x7 Reporter · 21 August 2026 · GlobalToday24x7

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken stringent regulatory action by suspending the food business licences of several high-profile establishments in South Mumbai, notably a McDonald's outlet in Colaba and the nearly century-old Bombay Presidency Radio Club. This decisive move comes after rigorous inspections revealed severe violations of food safety regulations, including active pest infestations, structural deterioration in food preparation zones, and unhygienic practices by staff members. The suspensions are a direct consequence of an intensified, statewide enforcement campaign spearheaded by FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, aimed at strictly implementing the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Over two days of heightened scrutiny, state authorities inspected 89 eateries, issuing improvement notices to 71 establishments and immediately suspending the operations of 13 food businesses that failed to meet fundamental public health criteria.

Critical Lapses Uncovered at McDonald's Colaba

The suspension of the McDonald's kiosk (operated by Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd) located at Metro House in Colaba was prompted by a reinspection conducted on August 19. According to FDA officials, the outlet had previously been served an improvement notice citing 20 specific deficiencies. The management subsequently submitted a comprehensive 148-page compliance report on August 12, claiming that all listed issues had been fully resolved. However, the subsequent on-ground reinspection contradicted these claims, revealing that 18 out of the 20 deficiencies remained unaddressed.

Among the most serious findings was an active pest infestation, with inspectors documenting live cockroaches within the kitchen premises. Officials also noted significant temperature discrepancies in uncalibrated refrigeration units, raising alarms regarding the safe storage of perishable ingredients. Furthermore, the inspection team observed severe lapses in staff hygiene protocols; employees were reportedly seen handling ready-to-eat food items without washing their hands after touching soiled cleaning cloths and dirty footwear. The FDA has flagged the discrepancy between the submitted compliance report and the actual ground reality as a potential offence under Section 61 of the FSS Act. Additionally, authorities alleged that the outlet was utilizing processed non-dairy or analogue cheese products ("GO Cheese SAUCE") despite displaying claims to customers about the use of authentic cheese and paneer.

Shocking Conditions at the Historic Radio Club

The 98-year-old Bombay Presidency Radio Club, a prestigious private members' institution established in 1928 on the Colaba waterfront, also faced immediate licence suspension following a dismal inspection outcome. The FDA found the establishment non-compliant on 47 percent of the assessed parameters. Inspectors encountered shocking sanitary conditions, including a large-scale infestation of live flies across various kitchen areas and dead cockroaches near the utensil-washing section.

The structural integrity of the food preparation zone was also severely compromised, with peeling paint and flaking plaster posing a high risk of physical contamination. In a blatant violation of storage protocols, FDA officials discovered washing powder and other chemical cleaning agents stored immediately adjacent to food items. Furthermore, utensils and food were observed being kept directly on the floor, while staff belongings such as helmets and clothing were stored alongside edible supplies. Unhygienic conditions inside refrigerators used for non-vegetarian food, unsealed kitchen doors, and marks suggestive of spitting inside the premises further compounded the health hazards, compelling FDA Zone I to invoke Section 32(3) of the Act to halt all food purchasing, selling, and distribution activities at the club.

Broader Statewide Crackdown on Food Safety

The regulatory actions in Colaba are part of a much wid...