Mumbai: Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration has suspended the food licences of 13 establishments following a statewide food safety inspection drive, with a McDonald’s outlet in Colaba and the Bombay Presidency Radio Club among those facing action over alleged hygiene violations.

McDonald’s licence suspended

The FDA inspected 89 hotels, restaurants and dhabas across Maharashtra during its special inspection drive on August 19 and 20.

At the McDonald’s outlet in Colaba, officials found that 18 of 20 deficiencies identified in an earlier improvement notice had allegedly not been rectified during a subsequent inspection.

The reported findings included living cockroaches, rotting food waste on the floor and concerns over staff hygiene.

Radio Club also faces action

At the Bombay Presidency Radio Club, inspectors reportedly found live flies and dead cockroaches in the kitchen.

The inspection also flagged peeling paint and plaster above food preparation areas, washing powder stored near food, unclean refrigerators and garbage bins located close to cooking stoves.

The premises were also reported to have spitting marks.

Other Mumbai establishments affected

The FDA also suspended licences or registrations of several other Mumbai establishments, including Novaara in Malad, Status Restaurant at Nariman Point and Khar Gymkhana.

Khar Gymkhana was cited for issues including inadequate storage, poor cleanliness in food preparation areas, improper segregation of raw and prepared food and improper thawing of frozen food.

The crackdown extended beyond Mumbai. Several establishments in other parts of Maharashtra also faced licence suspensions over reported sanitation and food-safety violations.

Overall, officials issued improvement notices to 71 establishments and suspended the licences of 13 during the inspection drive.

Separate gutkha crackdown

Separately, the FDA took action against prohibited gutkha and pan masala sales in Mumbai.

Three establishments were sealed and six people were arrested, with prohibited products reportedly worth ₹1.95 lakh seized.

The inspections are part of an intensified enforcement drive by the Maharashtra FDA under Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, who took charge in May.

The action highlights the distinction between an improvement notice and licence suspension. Establishments can first be directed to rectify identified deficiencies. Where serious violations are found or earlier deficiencies remain unresolved, authorities can take stronger regulatory action.

The findings reported in this drive concern specific inspections and should not automatically be taken as representative of an entire restaurant chain or organisation.