Tukaram Mundhe-led FDA team suspends Mumbai cafe licence

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licence of Cafe Mondegar, the well-known Colaba restaurant, following an inspection that found several food safety and hygiene violations. The inspection was conducted on September 12 as part of the FDA’s intensified festival-season enforcement drive.

The FDA team, led by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, found that hot food was not being maintained at the prescribed temperature of above 60°C, while cold storage was not being maintained below 5°C.

Officials also reported improper thawing practices and inadequate rapid cooling of cooked food. The inspection found moisture-related damage to flooring, inadequate drainage near the food preparation area and equipment that was not being properly cleaned and sanitised. The drainage issue was identified as a potential cross-contamination risk.

Cafe Mondegar, established in 1932, is one of Mumbai’s longstanding Irani cafes and is known for its interiors featuring cartoons associated with artist Mario Miranda.

FDA’s wider festival crackdown

The action against Cafe Mondegar is part of a wider Maharashtra FDA campaign covering restaurants, hotels, eateries, sweet shops and other food businesses during the Ganpati festival period.

Between September 11 and 14, the FDA said it inspected 38 food establishments in Mumbai and collected 47 food samples. The department also reported the seizure of 4,138.7 kg of dairy products and sweets, along with 30 litres of liquid milk, with the seized material valued at more than Rs 15.5 lakh.

The seized products included items such as khoya, paneer, ghee, peda, halwa, shrikhand, butter and milk powder.

The FDA has also taken action against banned food products in Jalna, where officials seized goods and vehicles with a combined reported value of around Rs 1.35 crore.

Food safety checks at Ganesh mandals

The enforcement campaign has also included preventive measures ahead of Ganeshotsav.

The FDA’s Greater Mumbai unit conducted five awareness workshops for Ganesh mandal office-bearers and workers, with around 320 participants. The sessions focused on hygienic preparation and distribution of prasad and mahaprasad.

The FDA and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation also organised a training programme for representatives of around 110 self-help groups involved in making modaks. Officials provided guidance on hygiene and manufacturing practices under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

What happens to Cafe Mondegar now?

The suspension follows the FDA inspection and requires the establishment to address the deficiencies identified by the regulator before its licence can be restored. Similar licence suspensions have been imposed on other Mumbai food establishments during the current enforcement campaign.

The Cafe Mondegar action is part of a broader enforcement push by the Maharashtra FDA rather than an isolated inspection. The department has recently taken action against several prominent food establishments in Mumbai, with inspections focusing on temperature control, food handling, sanitation, storage and infrastructure.

The case also highlights the distinction between a restaurant’s reputation and compliance with food-safety requirements. In Cafe Mondegar’s case, the FDA cited specific operational and structural deficiencies, including temperature control, drainage and sanitation, as the basis for its action.

The intensified checks are taking place during the Ganpati festival, when demand for sweets, dairy products, prasad and prepared food increases across Maharashtra. This has prompted the regulator to combine inspections and seizures with awareness and training programmes.