Four Domino’s Outlets Face Licence Suspension
Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of four Domino’s outlets after inspections found serious hygiene and food-safety violations.
Three of the affected Domino’s outlets are located in Mumbai, while another is in a different city in Maharashtra.
The action is part of an intensified food-safety crackdown across the state, where authorities have been carrying out inspections of restaurants, food outlets and other businesses.
Grease, Rust And Insect Infestation Found
During inspections, officials found grease residue inside pizza-making equipment and signs of insect infestation at the affected Domino’s outlets.
Authorities also identified inadequate pest-control measures at the outlets.
Images and videos that emerged following the inspections appeared to show heavy rust and a significant buildup of food residue and grease inside equipment at at least one outlet.
Such conditions can increase the risk of food contamination and raise serious questions about the maintenance of food-preparation areas.
Pizza Hut Outlet Also Shut
The crackdown was not limited to Domino’s.
The FDA also suspended the licence of one Pizza Hut outlet after inspectors found that several food products being used there did not have expiry dates.
The violation meant that officials could not establish the required validity and safety information for those products.
The action brings the total number of outlets from the two major international pizza chains facing licence suspension in Maharashtra to five.
Maharashtra Intensifies Food Safety Crackdown
The latest action is part of a much wider food-safety enforcement campaign in Maharashtra.
Food safety officials have been conducting inspections across the state, including at popular restaurants, food chains and smaller eateries.
On a single day, officials reportedly inspected more than 100 outlets and issued improvement notices to 95 establishments.
The crackdown has also resulted in action against other well-known food and retail businesses in recent weeks.
Popular Brands Under Greater Scrutiny
The inspections are notable because Domino’s and Pizza Hut are major international food brands that generally operate under standardised food-preparation and hygiene systems.
The findings demonstrate that even large organised food chains can face regulatory action when individual outlets fail to comply with food-safety requirements.
For consumers, the crackdown could increase pressure on restaurant chains to maintain consistent hygiene standards across every outlet rather than relying only on company-wide procedures.
Companies Yet To Comment
Jubilant FoodWorks, which operates Domino’s in India, did not immediately comment on the action.
Pizza Hut’s Indian franchisee, Sapphire Foods, also did not respond to requests for comment.
The companies could face further regulatory proceedings depending on the findings and corrective measures required by the authorities.
Food Safety Becomes A Major Consumer Concern
The Maharashtra action comes at a time when food hygiene has become an increasingly important issue for Indian consumers.
Regulators have been stepping up inspections of restaurants, food manufacturers, quick-commerce facilities and other food businesses following reports of contamination, expired products, pest infestations and other violations.
The latest suspensions send a strong message that popular brands will also face action if their individual outlets fail to meet mandatory food-safety standards.
Domino’s And Pizza Hut Face A Wake-Up Call
The suspension of five outlets across the two pizza chains highlights the importance of maintaining strict hygiene controls at every stage of food preparation.
For Domino’s, the discovery of grease buildup and insect infestations is particularly significant because the company operates thousands of outlets across India.
The immediate focus will now be on corrective measures and whether the affected outlets can demonstrate compliance with the required standards before their licences are restored.
Summary
Maharashtra’s FDA has suspended the food business licences of four Domino’s outlets and one Pizza Hut outlet following inspections that uncovered serious hygiene violations. Domino’s outlets were found with grease residue in pizza-making equipment and insect infestations, while a Pizza Hut outlet had products without expiry dates. The action is part of a wider Maharashtra food-safety crackdown that has seen more than 100 outlets inspected in a single day.
