Why Maharashtra FDA Is Launching a Massive Crackdown on 4.5 Lakh Food Outlets

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a sweeping food safety compliance mandate targeting all hotels, restaurants, dhabas, cloud kitchens, caterers, and online food delivery operators across the state. Following recent field inspections that revealed widespread hygiene violations, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe announced the launch of a statewide “Safe Food – Healthy Maharashtra” campaign. Under this initiative, the regulatory body plans to inspect approximately 4.5 lakh food establishments, warning that operations compromising public health will face immediate closure, license cancellation, and severe criminal prosecution.

Critical Violations Prompting Statewide Crackdown

The comprehensive order follows targeted audit inspections that exposed several critical vulnerabilities in the state's hospitality and food service sectors. Investigators documented food being prepared in highly unhygienic environments, the hazardous reuse of degraded cooking oil, and widespread failures to store perishable items at required temperatures. Birth Dates on Wedding Cards in Maharashtra Soon? State Weighs New Rule To Curb Child Marriage.

Additionally, teams found numerous establishments deploying food handlers who lacked mandatory medical fitness certificates, alongside a systematic failure to provide patrons with clean drinking water. Beyond hygiene, the new directive explicitly bans the practice of serving or packaging food items in newspapers or any other non-food-grade materials due to chemical ink transfer and chemical contamination hazards. The unauthorised sale or reuse of used cooking oil has also been prohibited.

Mandate for Free Safe Drinking Water

In a major structural shift for consumers, the FDA order makes it legally mandatory for all dine-in establishments to provide safe drinking water completely free of charge. Eateries are strictly prohibited from forcing customers to purchase branded bottled water. Furthermore, all hotels and restaurants must now prominently display visible signage informing patrons of their right to free, safe drinking water.

Severe Penalties Under the FSS Act, 2006

Enforcement actions under the statutory framework of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, will include heavy financial penalties and lengthy prison terms depending on the severity of the offence:

• Fatalities: If the consumption of unsafe food results in a customer's death, offenders face a minimum of seven years in prison - extending up to life imprisonment - and a minimum fine of INR 10 lakh.
• Grievous Injury: Cases involving severe health damage or critical illness carry up to six years of imprisonment and fines up to INR 5 lakh.
• Minor Injury & Non-Injury Violations: Ordinary injuries carry penalties of up to one year in jail and an INR 3 lakh fine. Serving unsafe food that results in no injury can still attract up to three months in prison and an INR 1 lakh fine.
• Licensing & Misbranding: Operating without a valid FSSAI license or registration now carries a penalty of up to INR 10 lakh. Selling substandard products or misbranding items can trigger fines of up to INR 5 lakh and INR 3 lakh, respectively. MSRTC Salary Hike: Maharashtra Government Approves Major Salary, DA and HRA Hike for MSRTC Employees.

Beyond Fines: Operational Shutdowns and Recalls

Commissioner Mundhe emphasised that the state's enforcement strategy will extend far beyond financial penalties to ensure absolute compliance. The FDA is authorised to issue immediate improvement notices, suspend or cancel operating licenses, order complete structural shutdowns, and seize or destroy compromised inventory. The agency also confirmed it will initiate product recalls and publicly disclose the names of offending establishments to protect consumers, alongside filing parallel cases under applicable criminal laws for severe negligence.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 24, 2026 11:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).