FDA suspends Café Mondegar licence over food-safety lapses; wider crackdown hits Mumbai eateries

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The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the food licence of Café Mondegar in Colaba after a September 12 inspection found multiple food-safety and hygiene violations, as part of a broader crackdown on restaurants, dairies and sellers of banned food products across Mumbai and Maharashtra.

The FDA inspected Café Mondegar at Metro House, Colaba, on September 12 and found that hot food was not being maintained above the prescribed 60°C, while cold storage was not being kept below 5°C. Inspectors also flagged improper thawing of food and failure to rapidly cool cooked items.

The agency further cited damaged flooring caused by dampness, inadequate drainage near the food preparation area that posed a risk of cross-contamination, and failure to properly clean and sanitise equipment.

Café Mondegar was among four Mumbai establishments whose licences were suspended. Maharashtra Biryani Center in Kandivali East was inspected on September 11, while Tribhuvan Dairy Farm in Ghatkopar West and Mahavir Cashew & Foods Pvt Ltd in Ghatkopar East were also inspected on September 11. The FDA said violations of food-safety requirements under Schedule 4 were found at these establishments.

The action formed part of a larger festival-season enforcement drive in Greater Mumbai carried out between September 11 and 14. The FDA said 38 food establishments were inspected and 47 samples, including milk, khoya, ghee and sweets, were collected for analysis.

At Ayush Milk Supplier in Andheri East, the FDA seized 23 kg of sweet burfi worth ₹6,440 after taking samples for testing. At Brijwasi Mithaiyan in Mulund West, 225 kg of khoya worth ₹60,300 was seized for analysis.

The FDA said nine licences were suspended in the broader Mumbai inspection drive, while Krishna Sweets and Snacks in Kanjurmarg East was fined ₹20,000 after deficiencies were found during inspection.

Separately, on September 12, in a crackdown on prohibited food products in Mumbai on September 12, the FDA took action against five establishments. It said banned stock worth ₹20.21 lakh was seized, one FIR was registered, and nine people were arrested. Five vehicles allegedly used to transport the prohibited products, collectively valued at ₹98 lakh, were also seized.

The enforcement drive extended to other parts of Maharashtra. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, the FDA on September 15 seized prohibited food products worth ₹2.74 lakh along with a vehicle valued at ₹3 lakh. An FIR was registered, and two people were arrested.