Story perspectives

Maharashtra FDA Suspends Olympia Coffee House Food License

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 4:04 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration suspended the food licence of the 108-year-old Olympia Coffee House in Colaba, Mumbai.
The suspension followed a consumer complaint and the FDA’s “Safe Food Safe Maharashtra” festive-season drive.
Inspectors discovered a urinal placed in the cafe’s food-storage area.
They documented cockroach and fly infestations.
Thirty-four of the thirty-five food handlers had not completed mandatory food-safety training.

History

Historical Context

President Theodore Roosevelt signed the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act, spurred by Upton Sinclair’s *The Jungle*, and gave the USDA’s Bureau of Chemistry authority to seize adulterated goods—a step that later evolved into the FDA after the 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Drawing on that precedent, Maharashtra’s food regulator revoked Olympia Coffee House’s licence in 2024 for unsanitary conditions.

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Story summary

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration suspended the food licence of the 108-year-old Olympia Coffee House in Colaba, Mumbai.
The suspension followed a consumer complaint and the FDA’s “Safe Food Safe Maharashtra” festive-season drive.
Inspectors discovered a urinal placed in the cafe’s food-storage area.
They documented cockroach and fly infestations.
Thirty-four of the thirty-five food handlers had not completed mandatory food-safety training.

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