Maharashtra FDA’s statewide inspection drive has put food safety and hygiene practices at major restaurant chains under scrutiny, with four Domino’s outlets facing licence suspension.
A major food-safety inspection drive in Maharashtra has resulted in action against several well-known restaurant chains, including Domino’s Pizza.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected 104 establishments operated by major food and restaurant brands on August 11. The inspection drive covered brands including Domino’s Pizza, KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks and Monginis.
Following the inspections, authorities issued 95 improvement notices, ordered operations at two establishments to stop immediately, and suspended five food-business licences with immediate effect. Four of the suspended licences were associated with Domino’s Pizza outlets.
Which Domino’s Outlets Were Affected?
The FDA action involved four Domino’s outlets operated by Jubilant FoodWorks.
Three of the outlets are located in Mumbai:
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Vile Parle West
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Borivali West
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R-City Mall, Ghatkopar West
The fourth outlet is located in Malkapur in Satara district.
The FDA's findings differed from outlet to outlet, but broadly involved concerns related to food storage, hygiene, pest control, temperature monitoring, sanitation and food-handling practices.
What Did the FDA Find?
At the Vile Parle West outlet, inspectors identified deficiencies involving the display of the FSSAI licence, potable-water testing, food storage, pest control and hygiene facilities.
The outlet was also directed to improve temperature monitoring for frozen food, maintain proper segregation of food and non-food materials, address possible rodent and pest entry points, and provide adequate hand-washing and hygiene facilities for food handlers.
The Borivali West outlet was also found to have deficiencies involving food storage, temperature monitoring, food testing, cleanliness and pest control. Corrective measures included proper segregation of raw and cooked food, as well as vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, along with regular sanitisation of equipment and utensils.
At the R-City Mall outlet in Ghatkopar West, the FDA cited issues involving cleanliness, sanitation schedules and pest-control measures. Inspectors also flagged concerns around proper stock rotation practices, including FIFO (First In, First Out) and FEFO (First Expired, First Out), as well as temperature control in food storage.
The Malkapur outlet in Satara district was also found to have significant deficiencies, with problems reported in areas including basic facilities, equipment, cleanliness and pest control.
This Was Bigger Than Domino’s
The action against Domino’s was part of a much wider enforcement campaign.
The Maharashtra FDA's inspection drive covered 104 establishments belonging to several major restaurant chains. Rather than focusing on one brand, officials examined compliance with food-safety, hygiene, storage and licensing requirements across the sector.
The outcome included:
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104 establishments inspected
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95 improvement notices issued
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2 establishments ordered to halt operations immediately
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5 food-business licences suspended
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4 suspended licences linked to Domino’s outlets
The fifth suspended licence was associated with a restaurant operated by Sapphire Foods India in the Karad area.
Why Food Safety Inspections Matter
The FDA's action highlights an important point for consumers: a familiar brand name does not remove the need for strict food-safety compliance at individual outlets.
Restaurants must maintain appropriate standards for food storage, temperature control, sanitation, pest prevention, equipment cleaning, food handling and employee hygiene. These procedures are particularly important in high-volume food businesses where ingredients are stored, prepared and served throughout the day.
Regular inspections help identify weaknesses before they can potentially become larger food-safety concerns.
What Happens Next?
A licence suspension is a regulatory action taken in response to identified violations. It does not necessarily mean that the affected outlets are permanently closed.
The outlets will need to address the deficiencies identified by the food-safety authorities and comply with applicable requirements before operations can resume under the relevant regulatory framework.
The Maharashtra FDA has indicated that inspections and enforcement action against businesses failing to comply with food-safety standards will continue.
The Bigger Message for Restaurant Businesses
The latest inspections send a clear message to India's food-service industry: food safety cannot be treated as a secondary operational issue.
From maintaining the correct storage temperature to controlling pests, sanitising equipment and ensuring proper separation of food items, every part of the food-handling process matters.
For consumers, the episode is also a reminder to pay attention to hygiene and food-safety practices when choosing where to eat.
For restaurant operators, meanwhile, it reinforces the importance of maintaining compliance consistently—not just when an inspection is expected.
The Maharashtra FDA's crackdown shows that even major restaurant chains remain subject to regulatory scrutiny when food-safety standards are not met.
