The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food-business licences of four Domino’s Pizza outlets after inspections found several violations of food safety and hygiene standards.
Three of the affected outlets are in Mumbai, while the fourth is in Satara district. The action followed a special inspection drive targeting major restaurant chains across Maharashtra and comes as the state food regulator steps up checks on restaurants, hotels, eateries and other establishments.
The four Domino’s outlets are operated by Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. The Mumbai outlets are located in Vile Parle West, Borivali West and R-City Mall in Ghatkopar West. The fourth outlet is in Malkapur, Karad, in Satara district. Officials said the inspections found shortcomings ranging from poor sanitation and pest-control measures to improper food storage and inadequate temperature monitoring.
The FDA conducted the inspections on August 11 as part of a wider drive covering 104 establishments operated by major restaurant brands. The exercise included Domino’s Pizza, KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks and Monginis.
During the drive, two establishments were ordered to stop operations immediately, 95 received improvement notices and five food-business licences were suspended. Four of those suspended licences belonged to Domino’s outlets, while the fifth was linked to another fast-food establishment.
The action against the Domino’s outlets was taken under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. The inspections focused on whether the outlets were meeting prescribed standards for food handling, storage, sanitation, pest control and record keeping.
At the Vile Parle West outlet, inspectors found deficiencies involving the display of the FSSAI licence, potable water testing, food storage, pest control and general hygiene facilities.
The outlet was directed to improve temperature monitoring for frozen and other food products and ensure proper separation of food and non-food items. The FDA also called for repairs to parts of the kitchen, including the back door, flooring and chilling room.
Measures to prevent rodents and other pests were also ordered. The outlet was asked to improve food-preparation facilities, equipment sanitisation and hand-washing arrangements for food handlers.
The Borivali West outlet was also found to be significantly non-compliant. The FDA assigned it a compliance score of 54%.
Inspectors identified problems with food storage, temperature monitoring, food testing, hygiene and pest control. The outlet was instructed to properly separate raw and cooked food, as well as vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Raw materials also had to be stored separately from non-food items.
The inspection further found the need for better cleaning and sanitisation of equipment and utensils. Oily residue and food scraps were reported in the pizza preparation area, prompting directions for immediate cleaning. Improvements were also ordered for flooring, lighting, overall cleanliness and pest-control systems.
The Ghatkopar West outlet at R-City Mall faced action over inadequate cleanliness and sanitation arrangements. According to the FDA, the outlet did not maintain a proper cleaning and sanitation schedule and had deficiencies in pest control.
The inspection also found problems with FIFO (First In, First Out) and FEFO (First Expired, First Out) practices, which are important for ensuring that older or earlier-expiring food products are used first. Temperature control in food storage was also found to be inadequate.
The FDA additionally flagged missing food-grade certificates and gaps in records related to equipment calibration, preventive maintenance, food and water testing and food safety procedures.
The Satara outlet, located in Malkapur, Karad, recorded an even lower compliance score of 47%. The FDA cited deficiencies in basic infrastructure, equipment, cleanliness and pest control.
The outlet was directed to improve storage arrangements for raw food materials, including the use of proper racks. It was also instructed to conduct laboratory testing of food products and maintain the required records.
The latest action is part of a much wider food safety crackdown in Maharashtra under FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. The department has been increasing inspections of food establishments since Mundhe took charge in May.
According to figures reported by India Today, the FDA inspected 3,137 hotels, restaurants, eateries and other food establishments across Mumbai between May 25 and July 31. During that period, it issued 764 improvement notices and suspended 165 licences. Officials also seized or destroyed 28.66 lakh kg of food products valued at ₹55.72 crore.
The intensified enforcement has already affected other food businesses. The FDA recently suspended the licence of a Blink Commerce facility in Mumbai after inspectors reported extensive cockroach infestation, poor food storage and other hygiene problems.
The regulator has also taken action against establishments outside Mumbai. Recent inspections resulted in licence suspensions involving restaurants, bakeries, sweet shops and other food businesses across Maharashtra. The broader enforcement effort shows that the FDA is increasingly focusing on compliance rather than limiting inspections to individual consumer complaints.