Maharashtra FDA suspends licences of several food businesses in Diwali inspection
The state Food and Drug Administration suspended 105 food licences, including those of quick-commerce platforms Zepto and Blinkit, and ordered the closure of several eateries during a two-day inspection.
Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended 105 food business licences across the state during a special inspection on November 4-5, with 28 suspensions in Mumbai. Seven establishments were ordered to shut down, including one in Mumbai, two in Pune, two in Amravati and one in the Konkan region.
The inspection targeted major quick-commerce platforms and popular restaurant chains. In Mumbai, licences for Zepto (Worli) and Blinkit (Blink Commerce Pvt Ltd) were suspended, and eateries such as Biryani By Kilo, Tossin Pizza (Worli) and Jumbo Burger faced the same action. Rajdhani Biryani Centre in Borivali was ordered to close completely for violating Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations.
In Nagpur, a D-Mart outlet on Kamthi Road was cited, and refined soybean oil was seized for breaching licence conditions. Over 69 establishments had suspected unsafe or adulterated food stock worth more than Rs 1.35 crore confiscated.
The drive resulted in three First Information Reports, two arrests and the seizure of two vehicles. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe warned that businesses endangering public health could face life imprisonment and fines of up to Rs 10 lakh.