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Maharashtra FDA suspends licences of 3 Mumbai food outlets, including Domino's, over hygiene violations. Maharashtra FDA suspends licences or registrations of three Mumbai eateries after inspections reportedly uncover improper food storage, cockroach infestation and other hygiene violations. * October 14, 2026 The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licence of a Domino's Pizza outlet in Parel and revoked the licence of Maaz Food Parcel and Catering in Bhandup West, Mumbai, following inspections that reportedly revealed serious food safety and hygiene violations. The action, announced on October 13, 2026, followed checks that found improper storage and handling of food, inadequate sanitation and other breaches of food safety requirements. At the Domino's outlet, operated by Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd, officials found vegetarian and non-vegetarian food stored together in the same deep freezer, while chicken and paneer were reportedly prepared on the same oven or grill. The establishment had previously received an improvement notice in August but allegedly failed to rectify the deficiencies. At the Bhandup catering unit, inspectors found cockroaches, clogged drains, unlabelled prepared food and other hygiene lapses. The FDA also raised concerns about the use of fat spread when the menu mentioned butter. The enforcement action is part of Maharashtra's broader efforts to improve food safety and hold food businesses accountable for maintaining hygienic conditions. The department's findings highlight the importance of ensuring that food served to customers meets prescribed safety standards, irrespective of a business's size or popularity. Food Safety violations. The Domino's Pizza outlet under scrutiny is located at Rangoli Time Complex on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road in Parel and is operated by Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. According to reports citing the FDA, the establishment had been inspected on August 11, following which officials issued an improvement notice directing it to address identified deficiencies. However, a follow-up inspection on October 9 found that several requirements remained unmet. The most concerning findings involved the storage and preparation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Officials found both categories stored together in a deep freezer, while chicken and paneer were being cooked on the same oven or grill. Such practices raise concerns about cross-contamination, particularly for customers who follow vegetarian diets or have specific dietary requirements. The FDA also noted that the outlet had failed to produce conformity reports for food-contact packaging materials and records relating to the maintenance of essential equipment. These documents help establish whether packaging and equipment meet applicable safety requirements and are maintained appropriately. Following the inspection, the outlet's licence was suspended on October 12. A separate inspection at Maaz Food Parcel and Catering, located on LBS Marg in Sonapur, Bhandup West, reportedly uncovered several additional violations. Inspectors found cockroaches in the kitchen, clogged and unclean drains, prepared food without labels and artificial food colouring in the kitchen. Officials also alleged that the establishment used fat spread while describing butter on its menu, potentially misleading customers about the product being served. Wider crackdown context. The latest action forms part of a wider enforcement drive by the Maharashtra FDA to check compliance with food safety requirements across restaurants, catering businesses and other food establishments. The action also included Mughal Dhaba in Kurla West, whose registration was suspended following a complaint about stale food in an order placed through the food delivery platform Zomato. According to reports, an inspection on October 8 found clogged drains containing food waste and stagnant dirty water. The FDA's action against the three Mumbai establishments demonstrates that inspections can be prompted by routine enforcement as well as consumer complaints. It also highlights the importance of maintaining hygiene standards throughout the food preparation process, rather than treating compliance as a formality. Under India's Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, food businesses are required to follow prescribed safety and hygiene requirements. Depending on the nature of the violations and the regulatory process, authorities can take action against establishments that fail to comply. An improvement notice is intended to give a food business an opportunity to correct identified deficiencies; continued non-compliance can lead to stronger enforcement measures. The latest developments also come after an earlier Maharashtra FDA drive against major food chains in August, when licences of four Domino's outlets and one Pizza Hut outlet were suspended over reported hygiene and food safety lapses. That action included concerns about pest control, cleanliness, food storage and monitoring practices. While the latest cases concern specific establishments, they raise broader questions about the consistency of food safety checks, the responsibility of operators to supervise their outlets and the effectiveness of corrective measures. The logical indian's perspective. Food safety is not merely a regulatory requirement; it is a matter of public health, consumer trust and basic responsibility. People who order a meal from a well-known restaurant or a neighbourhood catering service should be able to expect that the food has been stored, prepared and served under hygienic conditions. Businesses, in turn, have a responsibility to protect their customers through regular inspections, staff training, transparent menus, proper sanitation and prompt action whenever deficiencies are identified. The FDA's intervention is an important reminder that reputation and popularity cannot replace accountability. At the same time, enforcement should be consistent, transparent and focused on lasting improvements rather than temporary compliance following inspections.

Domino's same-store sales post modest gain. Photo: Domino's Pizza October 13, 2026 by Valerie Gritton - Editor, Connect Food Domino's Pizza Inc. reported a 9.2% increase in net income to $152.2 million for its third quarter of 2026, as operating income rose 8.3% and diluted earnings per share climbed 12.7% to $4.60. Global retail sales increased 3.2%, while same-store sales grew a modest 0.3% in the U.S. and 0.2% internationally, the company announced. Total revenue for the quarter ended Sept. 6, 2026, reached $1.19 billion, up 3.4% from $1.15 billion in the year-ago period. The increase was driven primarily by higher supply chain revenue and global franchise royalty revenue. Domino's added 175 net stores globally during the quarter, including 26 in the U.S. and 149 internationally, bringing its worldwide footprint to 22,706 locations. International markets accounted for the majority of net openings, reinforcing the company's continued emphasis on global expansion. The results mark an early milestone for Joe Jordan, who stepped into the CEO role after spending 15 years with the brand. "My job isn't to reinvent what makes Domino's great. It's to accelerate it with clarity, prioritization, faster decisions, and relentless execution. The fundamentals of our category, while mature, remain strong," he said during the Q3 call. "As I step into the CEO role, I am honored to lead Domino's and build on the competitive advantages that have long set us apart: our iconic brand, best-in-class franchise system, global scale and proven operating capabilities." He added that the company's next phase of growth would depend on translating its strengths into consistent execution. "Our opportunity now is to capitalize on those strengths by getting even closer to our customers, helping our franchisees grow their profitability and turning our best performance into our everyday performance," Jordan said. "By advancing winning ideas faster and executing them with greater clarity, speed and consistency, we can earn more occasions, continue gaining market share and create meaningful long-term value for shareholders." U.S. same-store sales increased 0.3%, a slower pace than the 5.2% growth reported in the third quarter of 2025. U.S. company-owned stores posted 1% same-store sales growth, while franchised locations recorded 0.3% growth. International same-store sales increased 0.2%, compared with 1.7% growth in the prior-year quarter. Despite modest comparable-store sales growth, profitability improved. Income from operations increased to $241.8 million from $223.2 million a year earlier, while supply chain gross margin expanded 0.9 percentage points to 12.2%, primarily due to procurement productivity. Net income rose from $139.3 million in the third quarter of 2025. For the first three fiscal quarters of 2026, Domino's generated $3.53 billion in revenue, up 3.7% year over year. Net income reached $427.7 million, an increase of 1.8%, while diluted earnings per share rose 4.7% to $12.80. Looking ahead, Jordan said the brand would draw on its established operating model while pursuing further market share gains. "As I begin this role, my philosophy is simple. We will build trust through action, earn credibility through results, and stay focused on helping our customers, franchisees, and stores succeed. That starts with two priorities, getting closer to the customer and continuing to drive strong four-wall profitability for our franchisees. Together, they provide a simple lens for how we will prioritize the business," he said. "Domino's has always been at its best when we are a step ahead. That mindset has helped us set the pace for the industry before, and it's how we'll push ourselves to do it again. I believe our next chapter will be our strongest yet."

Chicken and paneer on same grill: Mumbai FDA suspends Domino's outlet over food safety lapses. Inspectors noted that the pizza outlet had failed to rectify flaws highlighted in an earlier improvement notice issued in August. * Updated Oct 13, 2026 7:16 PM IST Chicken and paneer on same grill: Mumbai FDA suspends Domino's outlet licence The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of three food establishments in Mumbai, including a Domino's Pizza outlet in Parel, after inspections found food safety violations. The FDA said the licences or registrations of Jubilant FoodWorks, which operates the Domino's outlet, Maaz Food Parcel and Catering in Bhandup West, and Mughal Dhaba in Kurla West had been suspended.