Raids, seizures and licence suspensions put restaurants, food manufacturers and delivery warehouses under the spotlight

September 9, 2026 | New Delhi

India is witnessing an unprecedented food-safety enforcement drive, with authorities across several states intensifying inspections of restaurants, food manufacturers, storage facilities and online-delivery warehouses.

The campaign follows growing concerns over food adulteration, expired products, misleading labels and poor hygiene. Recent inspections have resulted in food being seized or destroyed, establishments being sealed and licences being suspended or cancelled.

🚨 BENGALURU: EXPIRED FOOD WORTH CRORES SEIZED

In Bengaluru, Karnataka authorities uncovered an alleged racket involving expired food products being relabelled for sale.

During a week-long operation, officials seized food products valued at around ₹3 crore, with raids extending to storage facilities associated with online-delivery operations. A facility in Lingarajapuram was also shut after officials found alleged relabelling of expired food products.

🍱 KOLKATA: 1,224 KG OF FOOD SEIZED

In Kolkata, civic authorities conducted a week-long inspection drive covering food establishments across the city.

Officials reported finding 1,224 kg of non-conforming or substandard food, while the food licences of 40 establishments were cancelled following violations.

🪳 MUMBAI: SERIOUS HYGIENE VIOLATIONS FOUND

Maharashtra authorities have also intensified inspections.

At a Kurla-based kitchen supplying food to railway passengers, inspectors reportedly found cockroaches in food-storage and processing areas, uncovered food and other hygiene and infrastructure violations. The kitchen’s food licence was suspended.

Three ISKCON Juhu outlets were also booked over reported food-safety violations.

🧪 GUJARAT: 42.9 TONNES OF FOOD SEIZED

Gujarat’s food and drug authorities reported a major August enforcement operation covering more than 2,200 food establishments.

Officials seized approximately 42.9 tonnes of allegedly adulterated food products, including oil, ghee, milk and chilli powder. Authorities also issued improvement notices and cancelled licences in cases involving serious violations.

🍬 FESTIVAL SEASON BRINGS EXTRA SCRUTINY

With India’s festive season approaching, Maharashtra has introduced a year-round enforcement calendar targeting periods when consumption of sweets, dairy products and edible oils rises sharply.

Officials say the objective is to protect consumers from adulterated or unsafe food while allowing festivals and public gatherings to continue normally.

🏷️ WARNING LABELS ON PACKAGED FOOD?

The crackdown is also expanding beyond restaurants.

India’s food regulator has been pushing for front-of-pack warning labels on foods high in sugar, salt and fat. The proposal has triggered debate between industry groups and health advocates over how strict such warnings should be.

🌍 FOOD FRAUD GETS INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

The issue has also crossed India’s borders.

Following a Mumbai warehouse raid involving allegedly falsified expiry dates and nutrition labels on food products, Canadian authorities said they were assessing whether the operation posed any risk to Canadian imports. They said they had no information at that time indicating that products linked to the operation had entered Canada.

📊 THE BIG PICTURE

According to reporting based on government data, roughly one in five food samples tested annually since 2020 has been found unsafe or substandard, while thousands of food licences have reportedly been revoked over the past three years.

The growing enforcement campaign is sending a clear message to food businesses:

FOOD SAFETY IS NOT OPTIONAL.

Consumers are increasingly turning to social media to highlight suspected food-safety violations, while authorities face pressure to ensure that enforcement is consistent and effective.