The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the license of Parsi Dairy Farm Pvt Ltd following severe hygiene and food safety violations at its Princess Street unit. The company is now prohibited from manufacturing or selling food products until compliance is restored. This action follows a wider statewide enforcement drive that led to the seizure of dairy and food products worth over ₹1.9 crore across various establishments.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business license of Mumbai-based Parsi Dairy Farm Pvt Ltd due to significant health and safety breaches discovered at its Princess Street facility. Under the regulatory order, the company is strictly prohibited from continuing any manufacturing, storage, distribution, or sales of its food products until further notice. This regulatory intervention follows an inspection that identified multiple violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Findings at the Princess Street Unit
Official inspections uncovered several critical lapses at the dairy’s production site. Authorities noted the presence of fly infestations and a lack of proper effluent treatment facilities. Physical infrastructure issues included damaged raw milk reception docks, deteriorating flooring, and inadequate drainage systems. The inspection also highlighted operational failures, such as the absence of mandatory 'Best Before' or expiry date labeling on various products, incomplete medical records for food handling staff, and insufficient sanitation protocols for delivery vehicles. The FDA noted that these conditions presented a direct risk of microbial contamination, which poses a significant health hazard to consumers.
Impact of Statewide Enforcement
The suspension of Parsi Dairy Farm occurred during an intensified two-day enforcement campaign conducted by the FDA across Maharashtra on July 14 and 15. The state regulator’s drive aimed to address rising concerns regarding food quality standards in dairies, eateries, and manufacturing units. During this period, the FDA confiscated a large volume of goods across the state, totaling over ₹1.9 crore in value. This figure includes 2,317 litres of milk and nearly 6,850 kg of various dairy products valued at approximately ₹45.78 lakh.
Broader Regulatory Context
The crackdown extended beyond Parsi Dairy Farm to various other establishments across the state. In Mumbai and other districts, authorities targeted vendors for the sale of banned items like gutkha and pan masala. Other specific actions included the seizure of 61 kg of dairy products in Mulund due to suspected use of cheese analogues and labeling issues, as well as the closure of operations at smaller units like Shiv Dairy in Vasai for lacking mandatory registrations.
Legal proceedings against Parsi Dairy Farm under the Food Safety and Standards Act have been initiated. The primary monitorable for the company and its customers will be the timeline for rectifying the identified hygiene breaches and the subsequent steps required to obtain regulatory clearance for resuming operations.