FDA crackdown: Restaurant body breaks silence, backs raids but seeks ‘clear communication’

“As an industry, we have a responsibility to maintain the highest standards of hygiene and compliance, and strict action should be taken against establishments that consistently maintain inadequate standards despite being given adequate opportunity to rectify them,” said Pranav Rungta, Vice President, NRAI.

“However, I believe the greatest and most sustainable impact comes when enforcement is accompanied by clear communication, practical guidance and reasonable timelines for compliance,” he said.

The NRAI has also urged the state government to ensure that enforcement remains “fair, transparent and free from excessive discretion.”

“Food safety enforcement should build trust and drive long-term compliance, not create uncertainty or opportunities for misuse. India needs a robust food safety ecosystem, and that can only be achieved through consistent standards, adequate regulatory capacity, industry engagement and accountable enforcement,” Rungta said.

Monsoon poses additional challenges

Rungta also pointed to operational challenges during the monsoon, including disruptions to infrastructure, waste management and pest control.

“While restaurant operators remain responsible for maintaining hygiene within their premises, certain environmental challenges require a collaborative approach between businesses, local authorities and regulators,” he said.

The crackdown against food businesses in Maharashtra has intensified since IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe took charge as Maharashtra FDA Commissioner on May 25. Between May 25 and July 14, the FDA inspected 443 hotels, restaurants and dhabas, suspended 56 licences and issued 161 improvement notices.

Among the establishments whose licences have been suspended are iconic eateries such as Noor Mohammadi Hotel, which completed 100 years in 2024; the 73-year-old K Rustom & Co in Churchgate; and high-end restaurants Flint and Waarsa at the NCPA, operated by Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality (ABNAH) and helmed by chef Rahul Akerkar.

On Thursday, the FDA also suspended the food business licence of Mumbai’s 110-year-old Parsi Dairy Farm after inspectors found what it described as serious food safety and hygiene violations. In the dairy sector alone, the FDA has inspected 360 establishments since Mundhe took charge.

FDA’s response

When asked about it, FDA officers said the Act came into force in 2006 and got a five-year transition period, with implementation from 2011. “And now we are sitting in 2026,” said a senior officer, adding that at the time of licensing, every restaurateur had given a written undertaking to abide by all regulations.

Another officer pointed out that the FDA ran awareness campaigns spread throughout the city before the inspection drive began, attended by over 500 food business operators, including members from AHAR and NRAI. Additionally, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe issued a comprehensive compliance order for all food business operators on June 23 highlighting their duties and obligations.

“We haven’t taken any draconian steps. If we had gone directly to cancellation without suspension first, that would be considered draconian. That is not the case — it’s a process,” said a key officer, adding that of the 443 hotels, restaurants and dhabas inspected so far, only 56 had their licenses suspended, while 161 were issued improvement notices. “Wherever there is unsafe food, we are not taking any chances, because ultimately, if you allow a restaurant to continue serving unsafe food, it’s going to affect the health of people directly and immediately. And one of the primary parameters that defines ‘unsafe food’ under the law is preparation in unhygienic conditions,” he added.