Live rodents, faecal contamination risks: FDA suspends licenses of online delivery platform, mithai shops in Mumbai

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Mumbai: A Swiggy Instamart dark store in Ballard Estate , operated by Swinsta ENT Private Limited, had its food licence suspended after Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found live rodents in handling areas, 10 kg bags of rice gnawed open with grains spilled across contaminated floors, rodent droppings in main storage areas, and live cockroaches roaming directly over food products.
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FDA said an unclean and in-use toilet was found adjacent to the food storage area, posing a serious risk of airborne and faecal-oral transmission of pathogens. Just a couple of days ago, FDA had found the popular restaurant Olympia Coffee House in Colaba to be marred by similar conditions, including a toilet in close proximity to the kitchen area.

At the same time, the licence was suspended for the Amazon warehouse and dark store in Kandivali (East), operated by Acculogicx Supply Chain Solutions . Officials found broken and worn-out tiles around drainage and washing areas, which led to wastewater stagnation and oily organic slime. The facility failed to segregate food and non-food items, storing cleaning chemicals dangerously close to food packaging, while temperature logs for perishable stocks were missing.

FDA also suspended the food licence of Suleman Usman Mithaiwala on Mohammed Ali Road after food preparation and storage areas lacked physical separation from drainage, sewage lines, and waste disposal units. FDA officials said trap-less drains provided a direct path for “municipal sewage, pests, and faecal pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella onto food contact surfaces”.

In Chembur, the licence of Nice Enterprises on Sion-Trombay Road was suspended for hygiene violations. Similarly, the licence of Jain Sweet & Bhelpuri House, located at Madhu Kunj on VL Road in Kandivli (West), was suspended. Additionally, licences were suspended for Go Green Food Hospitality in Ghatkopar (East), Swad Snacks Corner in Lalbaug, Parel, as well as Lucknowi Kebab and Zaika Moradabadi Hotel on Yari Road in Versova, Andheri (West).