Full Breakdown
Maharashtra FDA Festive-Season Crackdown Leads to Suspension of Historic Kyani & Co Licence
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Licence Suspension of Kyani & Co
On September 27, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected Kyani & Co, a 122-year-old Irani café in Mumbai’s Kalbadevi district. Inspectors documented cats, rat droppings, live flies, dead cockroaches, blood inside a refrigerator and an open sewage manhole in the food-preparation and storage areas. Citing “serious food-safety and hygiene deficiencies,” the FDA suspended the café’s FSSAI licence under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, ordering an immediate halt to all food-related operations.
Background & Context
The action was part of the “Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra” festive-season drive conducted from September 23 to September 27 across Mumbai, the Konkan, Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar divisions, targeting violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act and hygiene standards.
Data & Statistics
- Licences suspended: 30 food establishments statewide, including 13 in Mumbai.
- Food seized: 50,601.78 kg (? 50.60 tonnes) valued at INR1.19 crore.
- Banned stock: INR30.63 lakh seized from 26 inspected establishments.
- Legal actions: 22 FIRs, 30 arrests, three establishments sealed and three vehicles seized (INR14.80 lakh).
Seized items included khoa, paneer, ghee, sweets, lassi, coconut oil, farsan, wafers, spices, dry fruits, tea, sauces and noodles, some flagged as substandard or adulterated.
Official Statements & Responses
Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the department would continue “strict legal action” against any establishment found selling or storing expired, tampered or unhygienically prepared food, emphasizing consumer protection ahead of the festive season.
Other Establishments Affected
The FDA’s notice listed additional Mumbai outlets facing licence suspension or closure for similar violations, including:
- Colaba Sweet Mart – live lizards, cockroaches, flies and larvae; lacking pest-control measures.
- Arun Vilas Farsan (Dharavi) – rat infestation and gnawed inventory.
- Ruchi Veg Restaurant (Parel) – hygiene breaches.
- Daffodils Fast Food Inn (Vile Parle) – dirty refrigeration and non-functional temperature displays.
- EverSub India Pvt Ltd (Subway outlet, Lower Parel) – mouldy refrigerator, foul odour and live cockroaches.
Legal proceedings were also initiated against six other Mumbai businesses, including QSR Brands India and Royal China.
Impact and Significance
The crackdown highlights Maharashtra’s intensified enforcement of food-safety standards, especially for legacy establishments with high footfall. By suspending licences and seizing large volumes of potentially unsafe food, the FDA aims to deter non-compliance and reinforce consumer confidence during peak demand.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
All sources consistently report the same inspection dates, violations and outcomes. Kyani & Co has not issued a public comment, leaving its response undocumented.
What’s Next
The FDA indicated that suspended licences will remain revoked until full compliance is demonstrated. Ongoing monitoring and further inspections are expected throughout the festive season to uphold statewide food-safety standards.