Mumbai: Ayub’s Among 4 Eateries To Lose Food Licence in Maharashtra FDA Crackdown
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the operating licenses of four food establishments across the state, including the popular South Mumbai eatery Ayub’s, following a wide-ranging inspection drive.
Mumbai's well-known Fort eatery Ayub’s is among four food establishments in Maharashtra whose licences have been suspended following inspections that found multiple food safety and hygiene violations. The action was part of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) latest enforcement drive, during which officials inspected 37 hotels, restaurants and eateries across the state and issued improvement notices to 31 establishments, TOI reported.
Ayub’s Licence Suspended After August 22 Inspection
According to the FDA, inspectors visited Ayub’s in Fort on August 22 and identified several serious deficiencies in food safety and hygiene practices. Its food licence was suspended with effect from August 23 under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Ayub's Food Licence Suspended by FDA: Pics Show Improper Egg Storage, Open Drains in Mumbai’s Famous Late-Night Eatery.
Officials found high-risk food, including eggs, being stored at room temperature. The inspection also flagged inadequate separation between raw and cooked food, unhygienic food-handling areas, open and poorly maintained drains and stagnant water.
The FDA also reported the presence of houseflies and inadequate pest-control arrangements. Shortcomings were further noted in facilities for food handlers’ personal hygiene, food testing and traceability records. The regulator said the combination of deficiencies could increase the risk of microbial and cross-contamination, potentially affecting food safety.
Four Establishments Face Licence Suspension
Ayub’s was one of four establishments whose licences were suspended during the latest enforcement action. The other establishments were an outlet operated by Sankalp Mahila Audyogik Utpadak Sahakari Sanstha Ltd in Kurla, along with Burhampur Jalebi Centre in Pratap Nagar and Step In Restaurant in Giripeth, both in Nagpur. Bombay High Court Orders Fresh FDA Inspection of MCA Outlets in BKC.
The FDA said the suspensions followed inspections that identified violations of prescribed food safety and hygiene requirements. The department clarified that these were administrative licence suspensions following inspections and were not immediate or “tatkal” suspensions.
31 Establishments Issued Improvement Notices
The latest action covered 37 establishments across Maharashtra. Of these, 12 were inspected in Mumbai, 14 in Pune, seven in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and four in Nagpur. The FDA issued improvement notices to 31 establishments, requiring them to address deficiencies identified during inspections. In Mumbai, 10 establishments received such notices. The enforcement drive is part of the state’s wider focus on food safety, hygiene and prevention of adulteration.
Food Products Worth Rs 2.24 Crore Seized
The FDA also reported the seizure of 60,709.8 kg of food products valued at about Rs 2.24 crore during the wider enforcement operation. A major portion of the seized material was roasted arecanut in Nagpur. Officials seized 55,996 kg valued at approximately Rs 2.24 crore.
In Pune, 4,317 kg of food products worth Rs 7.27 lakh were seized from an unlicensed food business. In Jalgaon, officials also collected a sample of 396.8 kg of suspected adulterated loose soybean oil for laboratory testing.
Part of Wider Maharashtra Food Safety Drive
The action against Ayub’s comes amid an intensified food-safety campaign led by Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. The department has recently conducted inspections at several prominent restaurants, clubs and food establishments across Mumbai and other parts of the state. The broader enforcement drive has focused on hygiene, food storage, pest control, licensing, food handling and compliance with safety standards.
The FDA has said further regulatory and legal action will be taken against establishments that fail to comply with food safety requirements. For Ayub’s, the licence suspension now puts the Fort eatery under regulatory scrutiny as the FDA continues its inspections across Mumbai and Maharashtra.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2026 08:32 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
