Maharashtra FDA Suspends Licences of Seven Mumbai Eateries, Including Ottoman Cafe and Bharat Canteen, Over Food Safety Violations

Mumbai, Maharashtra | October 25, 2026

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences or registrations of seven food establishments across Mumbai following inspections that uncovered multiple alleged violations of food safety regulations. The action, taken under the leadership of FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, comes amid a wider statewide crackdown on suspected food adulteration, unhygienic food-handling practices and the sale of substandard food products.

The establishments facing action include Mumbai Darbar Family Restaurant in Lower Parel, Ottoman Cafe in Andheri West, Chacha Eagle Kulfi Falooda in Jogeshwari West, Bharat Canteen in Andheri West, Green Turtle Hospitality in Oshiwara, Atul Tiffin in Byculla and P. B. Enterprises in Sewri West.

According to officials, inspections conducted on October 23 and 24 revealed several violations of Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011. The findings included unhygienic kitchen conditions, poorly maintained drainage systems, improper storage of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, the use of unauthorised food colours and the absence of medical certificates for food handlers.

The latest action highlights the importance of maintaining strict hygiene and safety standards in restaurants and other food establishments. It also serves as a reminder that food businesses must follow the prescribed regulations to protect consumers and ensure that the meals they serve are safe for consumption.

FDA Inspections Reveal Multiple Food Safety Lapses

During the inspections, officials reportedly identified shortcomings in kitchen hygiene and food storage practices at the establishments under scrutiny. Such issues can raise concerns about contamination, food quality and the conditions in which meals are prepared and stored.

Proper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is an important part of safe food handling. Similarly, maintaining clean kitchens and drainage systems helps prevent contamination and supports hygienic food preparation.

The reported use of unauthorised food colours also raised concerns about compliance with food safety requirements. Food businesses are expected to use only permitted ingredients and additives in accordance with applicable regulations.

Officials additionally found that medical certificates for food handlers were missing at the inspected establishments. Such documentation forms part of the prescribed hygiene and safety framework for people involved in preparing and handling food.

The FDA’s action demonstrates the regulatory focus on ensuring that businesses comply with established food safety requirements. The suspension of licences or registrations can prevent establishments from continuing operations under the affected permissions until the relevant regulatory requirements are addressed, subject to the applicable orders and procedures.

Statewide Drive Seizes Food Products Worth ₹1.56 Crore

The action against the seven Mumbai establishments formed part of a broader statewide enforcement drive targeting suspected adulteration and substandard food products.

According to officials, the Maharashtra FDA seized approximately 43.56 tonnes of food stock and 719.2 litres of milk and ghee, with a combined estimated value of ₹1.56 crore. The seized products were suspected of being substandard, adulterated or incorrectly labelled.

The department also destroyed 564 litres of milk in Mumbai as part of its enforcement measures. Several food establishments faced suspension of their licences or registrations after violations were identified.

The statewide operation covered multiple divisions, with officials reporting seizures of different food products and ingredients. The findings indicate the scale of the department’s efforts to examine food quality and investigate possible violations across the supply chain.

However, the seizure of products on suspicion of adulteration or substandard quality should be distinguished from a final determination that every seized item was unsafe. The findings of the relevant investigations and testing would establish the nature of the violations.

Food Seizures Reported Across Maharashtra

The FDA reported significant seizures in several parts of the state during the enforcement drive.

Konkan division: Officials seized 9.99 tonnes of food stock valued at approximately ₹53.55 lakh.

Pune division: The department seized 2.11 tonnes of food items worth around ₹7.93 lakh.

Nashik division: Officials seized 4,069 kg of food products and 62.2 litres of ghee, with an estimated value of ₹8.25 lakh.

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division: Authorities reported the seizure of 26.84 tonnes of food items valued at approximately ₹64 lakh.

Nagpur division: The FDA seized 883.3 kg of oil worth around ₹1.77 lakh.

These seizures formed part of the department’s wider efforts to identify potentially substandard products and investigate suspected food safety violations in different regions.

Refined Soybean Oil Seized in Nanded

In Nanded, FDA officials seized 1,528 kg of refined soybean oil valued at approximately ₹3.05 lakh over suspicions of adulteration.

The action highlights the importance of checking the quality and authenticity of cooking oils, which are widely used in households, restaurants and commercial food preparation.

Adulterated or substandard cooking oil can raise serious concerns about consumer safety and the integrity of food products sold in the market. Regulatory inspections and appropriate testing help authorities investigate such cases and determine whether products meet the required standards.

The seizure was among several enforcement actions reported during the statewide drive.

Prohibited Food Items Also Seized

The FDA also reported seizures of prohibited food items in different cities. Officials said the value of these products was approximately ₹19.56 lakh in Pune, ₹4.22 lakh in Mumbai and ₹19,090 in Nashik.

In the Nashik division, authorities seized 2,908 kg of spices and ajwain from two locations over suspected misbranding and substandard quality.

The seizure included 2,230 kg of spices valued at approximately ₹11.86 lakh in Nashik and 678 kg of ajwain worth around ₹2.30 lakh in Jalgaon.

Misbranding can involve problems with the way products are labelled or represented, while substandard quality indicates that products may fail to meet the required standards. Such issues can affect consumers’ ability to make informed choices about the food they purchase.

The FDA’s action reflects the need for effective monitoring of packaged food products, ingredients and raw materials used by businesses across the food industry.

FDA Takes Action Against Drug and Cosmetic Violations Too

Alongside its food safety enforcement activities, the Maharashtra FDA has also stepped up inspections in the pharmaceutical and healthcare-related sectors.

According to an official statement, the department cancelled 29 drug licences and suspended another 71 across the state following a two-week inspection drive that uncovered regulatory deficiencies.

The operation covered 937 establishments, including retail chemists, blood banks and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. During the drive, the FDA issued 450 deficiency notices and seized illegal drugs and cosmetics valued at more than ₹28.52 lakh.

The inspections were intended to identify violations and improve compliance with the applicable rules governing medicines, cosmetics and related products.

An official release stated that the administration issued 382 notices to drug sellers after identifying deficiencies. The department subsequently suspended 49 licences and cancelled 22 for violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules.

The FDA also conducted 105 inspections involving drug, cosmetic and medical device manufacturers, blood centres, blood storage centres and drug-testing laboratories.

The number of inspections increased during the second week of the drive, rising from 31 in the first week to 74 in the second. The increase reflected an expanded inspection effort across the regulated sectors.

Why Food Safety Inspections Matter to Consumers

The latest crackdown highlights the importance of food safety standards in protecting public health. Consumers often choose restaurants based on reputation, price, taste and online reviews, but these factors alone cannot establish whether a kitchen follows proper hygiene procedures.

Safe food handling requires clean preparation areas, appropriate storage temperatures, proper separation of different food products, suitable ingredient sourcing and compliance with labelling requirements. Food handlers must also follow applicable hygiene procedures.

When these standards are not maintained, businesses risk compromising food quality and consumer confidence. Regulatory inspections help identify potential problems and give authorities an opportunity to take action where violations are found.

The recent findings also underline the need for food businesses to conduct regular internal checks rather than relying solely on external inspections. Maintaining hygiene should be part of everyday operations, from the moment ingredients arrive at a facility until the finished product reaches the customer.

At the same time, consumers should rely on credible information and official findings rather than assuming that every establishment or product is unsafe simply because enforcement action has taken place elsewhere.

FDA Crackdown Puts Food Businesses Under Greater Scrutiny

The suspension of licences or registrations at seven Mumbai establishments, together with the seizure of food products worth ₹1.56 crore across Maharashtra, marks a significant enforcement effort by the state FDA.

The action sends a clear message that restaurants, food manufacturers, distributors and other businesses must comply with the prescribed safety standards. Establishments are expected to maintain hygienic facilities, store food correctly, use permitted ingredients and ensure that their staff meet the relevant requirements.

The separate action against drug sellers and other regulated establishments also demonstrates the department’s broader focus on compliance across food, pharmaceutical and related sectors.

For consumers, the priority is to have access to safe, properly labelled and reliable food products. For businesses, maintaining hygiene and following regulatory requirements are essential not only for avoiding penalties but also for building long-term customer trust.

As inspections and investigations continue, the FDA’s findings and subsequent regulatory decisions will be important in determining what corrective measures are required. The wider message remains that food safety must be treated as a basic responsibility, not an optional business practice.

News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.