Maharashtra FDA Suspends Licence of Mumbai's K Rustom Ice Cream Parlour Over Hygiene Violations
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licence of K Rustom, a famous ice cream parlour located near Churchgate railway station in Mumbai, due to multiple hygiene and food safety violations, officials confirmed.
During a surprise inspection on July 8, 2026, FDA officials reported severe sanitation lapses, including the presence of live rats and flies on the premises. The regulatory authority issued a statement on Wednesday, saying the licence was suspended under the Food Safety and Standards Act after serious hygiene deficiencies were detected.
“The establishment has also been directed to remain closed until the reports of the food samples are received,” the FDA statement added.
The action was taken on the directives of FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe as part of the department’s ‘Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra’ campaign. This campaign aims to ensure citizens have access to safe and wholesome food through intensified inspections of eateries across Mumbai.
During the inspection, officials found large quantities of expired artificial flavouring agents and essences, including pistachio, pineapple, sweet orange, cherry, almond, American ice cream soda, mixed fruit, strawberry, blackcurrant, rum Jamaica, lemon, and plum flavours. These were allegedly stored for use in ice cream preparation. The expired agents were destroyed on the spot in the presence of the inspection team to prevent further use.
The FDA also collected ice cream samples for laboratory analysis. Earlier reports from an external laboratory indicated that the ice cream contained only 7.94 per cent milk fat, falling below the minimum requirement of 10 per cent prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) standards, raising concerns about product quality.
Furthermore, the inspection revealed live rodents and flies in the shop and storage areas, and officials noted that the mandatory cold chain required for safe storage and handling of ice cream was not being maintained.
The inspection was carried out by Food Safety Officers Tejaswini Patil and Akash Chavan, under the supervision of Joint Commissioner (Food) P R Singarwad and Assistant Commissioner (Food) and Designated Officer for Division I, Anupama Patil.
K Rustom is one of Mumbai's oldest ice cream parlours, known for its traditional flavours and iconic status. The suspension is a significant enforcement action under the state's food safety drive.
