Rats and Cats Roam as FDA Shuts Mumbai's Iconic Rustom Ice Cream Over Hygiene Violations
Mumbai's iconic K Rustom & Co ice cream parlour at Churchgate was raided by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday, July 8, in a 14-hour operation that revealed severe hygiene violations. Officials discovered live rats, cats, and expired food products on the premises, leading to the suspension of the establishment's license.
According to FDA officials, the raid began at 6:30 pm on July 8 and continued until 8:30 am the next day. Despite the suspension order, the outlet was found operating as usual. Officials described the conditions as 'far worse than anything seen previously,' with rats roaming freely between people's legs. The owners reportedly asked officials to treat the rats as pets. Two cats were also present, urinating wherever they pleased.
Expired ice cream and raw materials worth approximately Rs 9 lakh were seized. The FDA is set to initiate adjudication proceedings against K Rustom & Co. The outlet cannot resume operations until it rectifies several issues, including installing mesh screens on open windows, creating a separate changing area for workers, fitting rat traps, and repainting the premises. Owners, who are senior citizens, have been advised to seek FDA guidance for necessary improvements.
When this publication visited the outlet on July 9, a notice on the shutter read: 'We regret to inform all our lovely customers that we are shut for renovation from 8 July 2026' – a date that appears to be an error.
K Rustom & Co was founded in 1953 by Khodabux Rustom Irani. Originally an Irani café, it later became famous for its ice cream sandwiches, featuring flavours like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, guava, coffee, and paan. In 2014, its mango sandwich ice cream was listed among the '100 Most Iconic Ice Creams' by TasteAtlas.
