Rats, Cockroaches, Unsafe Food Storage: FDA Suspends Six Mumbai Eateries

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the food business licences of six restaurants and eateries in Mumbai, including a posh establishment in the Nariman Point area, after inspections uncovered unhygienic kitchens, expired stock and misbranded products during a coordinated statewide enforcement drive aimed at strengthening food safety compliance.

The action was taken against Flint & Waarsa , a restaurant in south Mumbai’s Nariman Point, along with five other establishments comprising hotels, restaurants and a bakery located across Borivali, Santacruz, Andheri, Bandra and Bhandup in the eastern and western suburbs, officials confirmed.

During inspections conducted on June 27, FDA officials found misbranded food products at Flint & Waarsa, collected five samples for laboratory analysis, and seized stock worth ₹11,350. Expired food items worth ₹16,201 were also found stored beyond their validity period and were disposed of on-site, according to official statements reported by multiple national outlets.

As part of wider raids conducted on June 26–28 across Maharashtra, officials reported sightings of rats and cockroaches , along with unhygienic storage of raw food, poor refrigeration practices, and missing regulatory documentation, including health check compliance for staff. The FDA also cited a lack of grievance redress mechanisms and serious lapses in sanitation standards as grounds for licence suspension.

The enforcement drive extended beyond Mumbai, with authorities conducting 31 raids across the state, seizing prohibited food products including pan masala and gutkha worth ₹34.87 lakh and arresting 19 individuals linked to the sale, distribution and transport of banned items. One establishment was sealed and multiple vehicles were seized during the operation.

Officials have stated that inspections will continue across Maharashtra as part of an intensified regulatory push to ensure food safety, with strict legal action planned against violations that pose risks to public health.