Parle Agro Licence Suspended by Maharashtra FDA After Expired Frooti, Appy Found in Chembur

After discovering expired Frooti, Appy and Apple Fizz at its Chembur godown, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended M/s Parle Agro's licence. The Velocity Express Warehouse, which is close to Chembur Naka, has inventory valued at INR 99,970 that was confiscated.

The move is in line with the agency's broader nationwide campaign against various food-related enterprises, including restaurants, motels, dhabas, bakeries, and online food platforms, spearheaded by commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. In May of 2025, Mundhe became the head of the Maharashtra FDA.

FDA’s Drive to Put a Check on Food Safety

By the 13th of August, the Food and Drug Administration had conducted inspections at 109 different eateries, issued 49 improvement letters, and suspended the licences of four food businesses. Bollywood Cafe in Film City, Goregaon East, had a number of issues in the kitchen not long ago, including filthy cooking equipment, a heavy fly infestation, wastewater, and food remnants.

During their special inspection operation, the FDA discovered multiple sanitation breaches at quick-commerce food delivery shops across Mumbai. Pests such as cockroaches, spoilt produce, faeces from rodents, and spoilt chicken were found in their licences revoked by the agency earlier. Inspections of eighty refrigerators. Food packages were stored on unclean floors. Ten meal delivery services, including Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart, had six retail locations on August 14th, prompting the move.

Among them, 60 were given reminders to improve, 14 had their licences revoked, and one was told to close immediately. At the Instamart on Hill Road in Bandra, inspectors discovered cockroaches scurrying about the storage space, as well as rat and pest droppings next to food packs. The store is located on the first floor of Gitaneel Arcade.

FDA Notices to Bollywood Celebrities

Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff, three Bollywood stars, were also recently served show-cause notices by the Maharashtra FDA. These notifications were issued due to the fact that these celebrities are the brand endorsers in an advertisement for Vimal Elaichi, which is purportedly a tobacco product. Within fifteen days after receiving the show-cause notice, they are required to provide a written explanation.

According to the agency, the campaign may be promoting tobacco products or illegal pan masala in a roundabout way. The government has issued a warning that additional legal action may be taken in the event that an explanation is either not received or is deemed unsatisfactory. It has been reported that four Domino's Pizza locations (3 in Mumbai) in Maharashtra had their food business licences suspended by the Maharashtra FDA not long ago. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accused three Mumbai-based establishments of having violated standards for food safety and cleanliness.