Flies, cockroaches and fake cheese land 7 Mumbai food outlets in trouble

MUMBAI: From flies in kitchens to cockroaches near food and cheese that was not quite what it claimed to be, Mumbai’s food inspectors found plenty to digest. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of seven food establishments after inspections uncovered serious hygiene violations, food misbranding and unsafe storage practices.

The action followed a two-day statewide inspection drive conducted on August 19 and 20, 2026. The crackdown covered food establishments across Maharashtra and also resulted in the seizure of adulterated dairy products and banned gutkha.

The seven Mumbai establishments have been barred from buying, preparing or selling food until they rectify the violations and receive clearance following reinspection.

Flies and cockroaches found at Colaba club

At a club in Colaba, inspectors recorded a 47 per cent non-compliance rate. The inspection found live flies, dead cockroaches, dirty refrigerators and garbage bins placed close to cooking stoves.

Chemical containers were also being stored near food preparation areas, raising concerns over possible contamination.

A fast-food outlet in Colaba was also found to have serious unresolved violations. The establishment had failed to address 18 of 20 deficiencies previously identified in an Improvement Notice.

Inspectors found live cockroaches and poor hand hygiene practices. The FDA also alleged that the outlet had submitted a misleading 148-page compliance report.

More significantly, the outlet was found using non-dairy analogue cheese labelled “GO Cheese Sauce” while advertising products as containing real cheese or paneer. The finding raised concerns over both food safety and misbranding.

Employee found washing face over clean utensils

A restaurant in Nariman Point was suspended after an employee was found washing his face directly over clean utensils.

Inspectors also found stagnant wastewater, grease deposits and unhygienic clothing. The conditions created a risk of cross-contamination between raw and cooked food.

Another restaurant in Malad West was ordered to stop operations after failing to rectify 14 of 25 serious deficiencies identified earlier.

The violations included the absence of grease traps, missing employee medical records and failure to display mandatory information on cooking oil.

Clubs, sweet shop and hotel also face action

A club in Khar was found violating food storage and FIFO/FEFO requirements. Inspectors also identified a lack of hot-water sanitisation facilities and improper thawing practices for frozen food.

A sweet shop in Santacruz West and a hotel in Andheri West were also subjected to action over issues including structural damage, rusted equipment and missing food-testing records.

The FDA said the establishments will remain shut until all violations are fully rectified and the premises are cleared after inspection.

Statewide raids seize adulterated dairy products

The wider inspection drive covered 89 establishments and resulted in 71 Improvement Notices. The FDA suspended 13 food licences and carried out 22 targeted raids.

Officials seized 2,348 kg of dairy powder and 902 litres of adulterated milk across Maharashtra, with the seized products valued at Rs 5.04 lakh.

In Mahape and Navi Mumbai, officials also seized large quantities of suspected adulterated dairy products.

The crackdown extended beyond food adulteration. Authorities seized gutkha and other banned products worth Rs 14.55 lakh, registered 12 FIRs, arrested 18 people and sealed 12 establishments across the state.

In Mumbai alone, three premises were sealed, six people were arrested and banned gutkha worth Rs 1.95 lakh was seized.

The FDA’s action puts the spotlight on a basic ingredient that no restaurant can afford to leave off its menu: hygiene. For the seven suspended establishments, reopening now depends on cleaning up their kitchens and clearing the regulator’s next inspection.