Maharashtra FDA suspends Parle Agro's licence after expired Frooti, Appy found in Chembur godown

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the licence of M/s Parle Agro after finding expired stocks of Frooti, Appy and Apple Fizz at its Chembur godown. Stocks worth ₹99,970 were seized from the Velocity Express Warehouse near Chembur Naka.

The action comes as a part of the agency's wider statewide campaign against restaurants, hotels, dhabas, bakeries, online food platforms and other food businesses under its commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. Mundhe took over as the Maharashtra FDA chief in May, 2025.

The FDA, as of August 13, had inspected 109 hotels, restaurants and dhabas, issuing 49 improvement notices and suspended four food-business licences. It had, a few days ago, also found dirty cooking utensils, significant fly infestation, wastewater and food residue in the kitchen at Bollywood Cafe in Film City, Goregaon East.

Also Read | ‘A person like me…’: What Maharashtra FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe said on joining electoral politics

FDA crackdown on quick-commerce outlets: Cockroaches, rats and expired chicken found

The FDA, during its special inspection drive targeting quick-commerce food delivery outlets across Mumbai, found several hygiene lapses. These included cockroaches crawling through food storage areas, expired chicken lying in refrigerators, rotten vegetables, rodent droppings and food packets kept directly on dirty floors.

Earlier this week on Friday, the agency suspended the licences of 10 food delivery chains, including Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart. The action followed inspections of 86 outlets on Thursday. Of these, 60 were served improvement notices, 14 had their licences suspended, while one outlet was ordered to stop business operations immediately.

The officials found cockroaches moving through the storage area, along with rodent and pest droppings near food packets, at an Instamart facility on the first floor of Gitaneel Arcade on Hill Road, Bandra. Dust, cobwebs and food waste were also found across the warehouse, with the facility also lacking adequate pest-proofing. It had an ant infestation, rusted racks, chipped flooring and poor housekeeping.

Another Instamart facility in Andheri West, near Azad Nagar Metro station, was found storing curry-cut chicken that had expired on August 12.

Also Read | 11 people, including children, fall ill after 'dead lizard' found inside birthday cake in Maharashtra, FDA raids bakery

SRK, Ajay Devgn, Tiger Shroff get FDA notices over Vimal ad

The Maharashtra FDA also recently issued show-cause notices to Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff for their participation as brand endorsers in an advertisement for Vimal Elaichi, allegedly a tobacco product.

The show-cause notice gives them a period of 15 days from the date of receipt to submit a written explanation. The agency says the campaign could be a surrogate or indirect promotion of prohibited pan masala/tobacco-related products. The agency has warned that if no explanation is received, or if it is found to be unsatisfactory, further action may be initiated under applicable law.