Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of four Domino’s outlets and one Pizza Hut outlet after inspections found multiple food-safety and hygiene violations. The action followed a statewide inspection drive targeting major restaurant chains under the “Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra” campaign, with officials examining food storage, pest control, sanitation, licensing and other safety requirements.
The crackdown covered 104 outlets operated by major chains including Domino’s, Pizza Hut, KFC, McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks and Monginis. The FDA issued 95 improvement notices, ordered two establishments to stop business immediately and suspended five food-business licences.
Four Domino’s Outlets Face Licence Suspensions
Four Domino’s outlets operated by Jubilant FoodWorks were among the establishments facing licence suspension.
Three of the outlets are located in Mumbai — Vile Parle West, Borivali West and R-City Mall in Ghatkopar West. The fourth is in Malkapur near Karad in Maharashtra’s Satara district. Inspectors cited violations under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
The findings varied from outlet to outlet, but included deficiencies related to sanitation, food storage, pest control, temperature monitoring and documentation.
| Domino’s Outlet | Key Issues Reported |
|---|---|
| Vile Parle West | Water testing, food storage, pest control and hygiene gaps |
| Borivali West | Food storage, temperature monitoring, sanitation and pest-control deficiencies |
| R-City Mall, Ghatkopar | Cleaning records, pest control, food-grade documentation and staff hygiene records |
| Malkapur, Satara | Infrastructure, equipment, sanitation and pest-control deficiencies |
Borivali Outlet Recorded 54% Non-Compliance
The Borivali West outlet recorded a compliance score of just 54%, according to the FDA’s inspection findings.
Officials flagged problems involving food storage, temperature monitoring, sanitation, testing and pest control. The findings point to weaknesses not only in cleanliness but also in systems designed to ensure that food remains safe throughout preparation and storage.
At the Vile Parle outlet, inspectors identified shortcomings involving the display of the required FSSAI licence, potable-water testing, food storage and pest control. The FDA also directed the outlet to strengthen temperature controls for frozen food, improve kitchen sanitation and prevent rodents and pests from entering the premises.
Ghatkopar Outlet Had Multiple Documentation Gaps
The Domino’s outlet at R-City Mall in Ghatkopar West was also found to have several compliance gaps.
The FDA cited the absence of a documented cleaning and sanitation schedule, inadequate pest-control records and shortcomings in food rotation practices. Officials also found missing food-grade documentation for materials that come into contact with food.
Records relating to food-handler medical examinations and vaccinations, equipment calibration, and food and water testing were also reportedly unavailable.
These requirements are important because food safety regulations cover not just the final product but the processes used to prepare, store and handle it.
Malkapur Outlet Scores 47%
The Malkapur Domino’s outlet in Satara district recorded an even lower compliance score of 47%.
Inspectors identified shortcomings in infrastructure, equipment, cleanliness and pest control. The FDA directed the outlet to improve storage facilities, food testing, food-contact equipment, pest-proofing, lighting and hygiene facilities.
The findings demonstrate that the regulator’s concerns extended beyond individual cleanliness issues to the overall condition and management of the food-preparation environment.
Expired Dough Balls Found at Another Domino’s Outlet
Separately, FDA officials found 32 expired dough balls worth ₹256 at a Domino’s outlet in Amravati.
The outlet was not among the four whose licences were suspended, but the finding adds to the regulator’s concerns about food inventory management at restaurant outlets.
Expired food products can pose food-safety risks and also indicate failures in stock rotation systems. Restaurants typically use inventory procedures such as first-expiry-first-out practices to ensure older products are used before their expiry dates.
Pizza Hut Outlet in Karad Also Penalised
Pizza Hut was also affected by the crackdown.
The FDA suspended the licence of a Sapphire Foods India-operated Pizza Hut outlet in Karad. Inspectors reportedly found that the outlet did not have separate ovens and baking pans for vegetarian and non-vegetarian pizzas. Officials also flagged sauce bottles and customer-use packets of chilli flakes and oregano that did not carry required packing or expiry information.
The findings are particularly relevant in India, where segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food preparation can be an important operational and consumer requirement.
A separate Sapphire Foods-operated Pizza Hut outlet in Akola also faced action after officials seized 55 kg of frozen paneer worth ₹17,600 that they suspected was misbranded and substandard.
104 Major Chain Restaurants Inspected
The Domino’s and Pizza Hut actions were part of a broader inspection campaign.
On August 11, the Maharashtra FDA inspected 104 outlets belonging to major food chains across the state. The campaign included Domino’s, Pizza Hut, KFC, McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks and Monginis.
The results were significant:
| FDA Action | Number |
|---|---|
| Chain outlets inspected | 104 |
| Improvement notices issued | 95 |
| Licences suspended | 5 |
| Immediate business closures | 2 |
The inspections focused on food safety, hygiene, storage, labelling, pest control and licensing requirements.
The campaign forms part of a wider effort by Maharashtra’s FDA to increase scrutiny of food businesses across the state.
Why Food-Safety Compliance Matters for Restaurant Chains
For large restaurant chains, maintaining consistent food-safety standards across hundreds or thousands of outlets is a significant operational challenge.
Unlike a single restaurant, a national chain operates through standardized processes, franchise arrangements, centralized procurement and local teams. A compliance failure at one outlet can therefore raise questions about whether similar weaknesses exist elsewhere.
The Maharashtra inspections highlight several areas restaurant operators need to manage continuously:
- Pest-control programs
- Food storage and temperature monitoring
- Expiry-date management
- Cleaning and sanitation schedules
- Separation of raw and cooked food
- Potable-water testing
- Food-handler health and hygiene records
- Proper labelling
- FSSAI licence compliance
For consumers, these measures provide safeguards that are not always visible during a restaurant visit.
Regulatory Pressure Extends Beyond Pizza Chains
The Maharashtra FDA’s campaign was broader than Domino’s and Pizza Hut.
Officials also inspected hotels, dhabas, bakeries, dairies, sweet shops and other food businesses. The department reported seizures of suspected substandard, misbranded and prohibited food products during its wider enforcement operations.
The broader campaign shows that the regulator is targeting food-safety compliance across multiple parts of the supply chain rather than focusing exclusively on large restaurant brands.
The FDA has indicated that inspections will continue and that businesses found violating food-safety requirements could face further legal action.
What the Action Means for Domino’s and Pizza Hut
The immediate impact is concentrated at the affected outlets, where licence suspensions can disrupt operations until the cited deficiencies are addressed and the relevant regulatory process is completed.
For the restaurant chains, the larger issue is maintaining consistent compliance across their networks.
Domino’s operates a large number of outlets through Jubilant FoodWorks, while Pizza Hut has a substantial presence through franchise and operating partners such as Sapphire Foods. Regulatory inspections can therefore create pressure for companies to strengthen internal audits, employee training, documentation and food-safety monitoring.
The episode also highlights the importance of regularly checking operational practices rather than relying solely on standardized procedures issued at the corporate level.
Looking Ahead
The Maharashtra FDA’s action against four Domino’s outlets and one Pizza Hut outlet underscores the increasing regulatory scrutiny of food-safety practices at large restaurant chains. The violations reported during the inspections ranged from pest-control and sanitation gaps to inadequate documentation, storage problems and expired food inventory.
For the affected restaurant operators, the focus will now be on correcting the deficiencies identified by inspectors and meeting the required food-safety standards. For consumers, the wider “Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra” campaign could provide greater transparency and accountability as regulators continue inspecting restaurants and other food businesses across the state.
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