The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of four Domino's Pizza outlets — three in Mumbai and one in Satara district — for alleged violations of food safety and hygiene norms, the agency announced on Wednesday.
Maharashtra FDA suspends licences of four Domino's Pizza outlets over food safety violations
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of four Domino's Pizza outlets — three in Mumbai and one in Satara district — for alleged violations of food safety and hygiene norms, the agency announced on Wednesday.
The three Mumbai outlets affected are operated by Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd and are located at Vile Parle West, Borivali West, and R-City Mall in Ghatkopar West. The fourth outlet, at Malkapur, is also operated by Jubilant FoodWorks. Two additional fast-food outlets operated by Sapphire Foods India at Karad in Satara district were also suspended.
At the Vile Parle outlet, inspectors identified deficiencies relating to display of the FSSAI licence, potable water, food storage, pest control, and hygiene facilities. The FDA directed the outlet to ensure proper temperature monitoring of frozen food, segregation of food and non-food items, rodent and pest prevention, and adequate hand-washing facilities.
The Borivali outlet was found to have 15% non-compliance. Directed corrective measures covered food storage, temperature monitoring, food testing, cleanliness, and pest control. The FDA also required proper segregation of raw and cooked food as well as vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, along with regular sanitisation of equipment and utensils.
The Ghatkopar outlet was found deficient in cleanliness, sanitation scheduling, and pest control. It also reportedly failed to follow FIFO (First In, First Out) and FEFO (First Expired, First Out) inventory practices, and lacked proper temperature control in food storage. The FDA additionally flagged the absence of food-grade certificates and records related to calibration, preventive maintenance, and food and water testing.
The Malkapur outlet was found to have approximately 40% non-compliance, with deficiencies in basic facilities, equipment, cleanliness, and pest control.
At the Karad establishments, the FDA prescribed corrective measures for pizza preparation, including the use of separate ovens, proper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian pizzas, separate pans, and appropriate labelling of sauces and pizza toppings with packing and expiry dates.
The special drive covered 104 chain restaurant establishments across Maharashtra and included brands such as Domino's Pizza, KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks, and Monginis. Two establishments were ordered to stop business, 95 were served improvement notices, and five establishment licences were suspended.
In Nashik district, the FDA suspended the licences of five food establishments: Hotel Sayali Restaurant and Bar in Satpur, Hotel Chhote Miyan on College Road, Mani Mark on Peth Road in Panchavati, Abhishek Bakery and Sweets in CIDCO, and Mohanlal Namkeen in Dindori. The FDA cited deficiencies related to cleanliness, food storage, water, equipment, and pest control.
In Mumbai, the FDA also suspended licences of Mumbai Metro Dhaba in Mulund and Gulshan-Da-Punjabi Dhaba in Bhandup after inspections found shortcomings in basic facilities, cleanliness, water, ventilation, pest control, and food storage.
Overall, the FDA inspected 120 establishments over the preceding few days, issued 54 improvement notices, and suspended 11 food business licences. The FDA is headed by IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe, who took over as commissioner in May, since when the authority has conducted an intensified inspection campaign targeting food establishments including hotels and clubs.
- No response or statement from Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd regarding the licence suspensions is included in the source.
- No response or statement from Sapphire Foods India regarding the licence suspensions is included in the source.
- The source does not specify the timeline or conditions under which suspended licences may be reinstated.
- The source does not state whether any legal challenge to the suspensions has been filed or is planned.
- The specific findings at the two Karad outlets beyond pizza preparation corrective measures are not detailed.
Read the original at The Times of India