Maharashtra FDA suspends Cafe Mondegar licence over food safety violations

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the operating licence of Mumbai's iconic Cafe Mondegar and three other food establishments following inspections that revealed serious food safety and hygiene violations. The enforcement action, part of a wider crackdown during the Ganeshotsav festival season, was announced by the state regulator on September 15. Inspectors found that Cafe Mondegar, located at Metro House in Colaba, failed to maintain hot food at the required temperature of at least 60 degrees Celsius and did not keep cold storage below 5 degrees Celsius. The inspection on September 12 also revealed improper thawing practices, inadequate rapid cooling of cooked food, and structural deficiencies including moisture-damaged flooring and inadequate drainage near food preparation areas. The FDA stated these lapses created conditions that could increase the risk of cross-contamination. The licences of three other Mumbai establishments were also suspended: Maharashtra Biryani Centre in Kandivali East, Tribhuvan Dairy Farm in Ghatkopar West, and Mahavir Cashew Foods Pvt Ltd in Ghatkopar East.