'Zero-Tolerance': McDonald’s India Responds To Munde-Led FDA Action On Mumbai Outlet

Mumbai: McDonald's India issued a statement on Saturday in response to the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspending the food business licence of its Colaba outlet. The Indian subsidiary of the global fast-food chain emphasized its commitment to upholding stringent food safety standards and its zero-tolerance policy towards any violations.

McDonald's India acknowledged the regulatory process, stating that it is currently reviewing the observations outlined in the FDA's report. In its statement, McDonald's India highlighted its commitment to food quality, safety, and hygiene, including the use of real cheese and paneer. The company also invited customers to take a kitchen tour to learn about its food preparation procedures.

The FDA had reportedly found numerous issues during its inspection of the Colaba outlet, including pest infestation, poor temperature control, cockroaches, rotting food waste, and inadequate staff hygiene. Despite submitting a compliance report on August 12 claiming all previously identified deficiencies had been addressed, a subsequent FDA inspection found most of the issues remained unresolved.

McDonald's India stated that submitting false information to the licensing authority is an offense under Section 61 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The Colaba outlet's suspension of operations is part of the broader FDA initiative to enforce food safety standards throughout the state, with several other food establishments facing inspections and enforcement actions recently.