Cats, rat droppings: Licence of Mumbai’s 122-year-old Kyani & Co suspended

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the licences of 13 food establishments in Mumbai, including the historic Kyani & Co, a 122-year-old Irani eatery, as part of a festive-season crackdown. The inspections, conducted between September 23 and 27, uncovered unsanitary conditions at the various locations.

At Kyani & Co, officials discovered cats, rat droppings, live flies, dead cockroaches, and a significant amount of blood in the refrigerator. The cafe was also found to have food items stored on the floor and raw dough covered in printed newspaper. Staff were not using appropriate hygiene practices or personal protective equipment, and there was improper segregation of raw and ready-to-eat food.

The upscale Cantonese restaurant Royal China faced serious deficiencies, including widespread fungal and mould infestation on stored ingredients and food preparation surfaces. Cockroaches were also found in the primary storage area, with cooking oil in fryers that had been reused excessively.

Other establishments affected by the suspension include Colaba Sweet Mart, Arun Vilas Farsan in Dharavi, Ruchi Veg Restaurant in Parel, Daffodils Fast Food Inn in Vile Parle, Tiffin in Bandra, QSR Brands India Pvt Ltd in Andheri, United Bakery & Stores in Santacruz, Hotel Purandar Vilas in Khar, Shree Padmavati Enterprises in Jogeshwari, and S.S. Caterers in Chembur. S.S. Caterers, which was operating without a valid licence, has been ordered to shut down immediately.

The food safety drive seized a total of 50.6 tonnes of food worth Rs 1.19 crore across the state.