The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken stringent action against Jubilant FoodWorks, suspending the licenses of four Domino's Pizza outlets in the state. This move comes after inspections uncovered serious breaches of food safety and hygiene norms during a targeted drive against chain restaurants.
Extensive Violations Found Across Locations
Three of the affected Domino's outlets are located in Mumbai — Vile Parle West, Borivali West, and R-City Mall in Ghatkopar West — with the fourth in Malkapur, Satara district. The FDA, led by IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe, detailed a range of deficiencies that led to the suspensions.
At the Vile Parle West outlet, inspectors cited issues with the display of the FSSAI license, potable water supply, food storage practices, pest control, and general hygiene facilities. The FDA also mandated improved temperature monitoring, strict segregation of food and non-food items, better pest prevention, and enhanced hand-washing and sanitization protocols.
The Borivali West location faced suspension due to inadequate food storage, temperature monitoring, product testing, overall cleanliness, and pest control. Specific directives included separating storage and handling for raw and cooked foods, as well as vegetarian and non-vegetarian items.
Deficiencies at the Ghatkopar West outlet included poor cleanliness, lack of sanitation scheduling, and ineffective pest control. Inspectors also noted failures to adhere to FIFO (First-In, First-Out) and FEFO (First-Expired, First-Out) practices, along with lapses in temperature control. The absence of food-grade certificates and proper records for calibration, maintenance, testing, and pest control were also highlighted.
In Satara, the Malkapur outlet's license was suspended due to fundamental issues with basic facilities, infrastructure, equipment, cleanliness, and pest control. The FDA instructed this branch to improve its storage systems and ensure regular laboratory testing of food products, with proper record-keeping.
Part of a Broader Food Safety Crackdown
These actions against Domino's Pizza are part of a larger initiative by the Maharashtra FDA, which has inspected 104 chain restaurant establishments across the state. This comprehensive drive included major brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks, and Monginis.
Overall, the FDA's enforcement efforts have been significant. Beyond the five license suspensions (which include the four Domino's outlets), two establishments were ordered to cease business immediately, and 95 received improvement notices, requiring them to rectify identified issues promptly.
The current crackdown follows previous high-profile actions, including the suspension of a Blinkit store's license in Malad West after an inspection revealed cockroaches on produce and expired products. In Mumbai alone, between May 25 and July 31, the FDA inspected 3,137 food establishments, resulting in 165 license suspensions and 764 improvement notices, underscoring the authority's commitment to upholding public health standards.