Pune’s Iconic Camp Burger King Sealed Over Hygiene Violations As Maharashtra FDA Widens Food Safety Crackdown
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Pune’s long-running Burger King outlet in the Camp area has been sealed after Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found serious hygiene deficiencies and violations of food safety norms during an inspection. The outlet’s food licence was also suspended as part of a wider state-wide crackdown on food businesses.
Camp Burger King sealed after FDA inspection
The Burger King outlet on East Street in Pune’s Camp area was among establishments facing action during the FDA’s special inspection drive. The restaurant, which has been operating in the area since 1992, is one of the city’s older Burger King outlets and has been a familiar food destination for generations of residents.
The action was carried out under the ‘Safe Food, Safe Drug, Safe Maharashtra’ campaign launched on the directions of Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.
86 establishments inspected across Maharashtra
On August 13, FDA officials inspected 86 establishments across Maharashtra, including food businesses and quick-commerce facilities operated by Zepto, Blinkit and Instamart.
The department said operations at one establishment were ordered to stop immediately, while 60 improvement notices were issued. Food business licences of 14 establishments were also suspended with immediate effect.
These included five licences each for Blinkit and Zepto, two for Instamart, and one each for Bhagwati Store and Swinsta ENT Pvt Ltd.
At one inspected facility, officials reportedly found cockroaches nesting and moving on racks used to store food packets.
Milk products and banned food items seized
The FDA also seized 698 kg of milk products worth ₹34,302 during the inspections. Another 1,270 kg of food items, including milk products, bakery products and edible oil, valued at around ₹1.29 lakh, was seized.
In a separate crackdown on banned products such as pan masala and gutkha, the FDA registered 10 FIRs linked to their sale, distribution and transportation. Nine people were arrested and banned stock worth ₹46.76 lakh was seized.
The total value of seized goods, including banned and other food products, was estimated at ₹46,89,603.
109 hotels, restaurants and dhabas inspected
The FDA also inspected 109 hotels, restaurants and dhabas during the special drive. Improvement notices were issued to 49 establishments, while the food licences of four were suspended.
In the Pune division, inspections were conducted between August 11 and August 14 at hotels, restaurants, e-commerce establishments and dairies. The FDA said the licences or registrations of 16 establishments were immediately suspended after significant hygiene deficiencies and violations of food safety norms were found.
Those facing action included Fortune Enterprises (Hotel Sayaji) in Lonavala, Hotel Chul Mutton in Lohegaon, Simply South in Bhosari, Hotel Pawan in Kolhapur, Rajesh Chinese in Sangli, Domino’s Pizza and Pizza Hut in Karad, and the Camp Burger King.
JBM Hospitality, which operates a canteen at HDFC Bank in Wanwadi, Pune, was also directed to stop operations for allegedly functioning without a licence.
Blinkit, Zepto facilities found non-compliant
The FDA’s inspections also covered quick-commerce warehouses and food storage facilities.
A Blinkit Commerce Private Limited facility in Ghatkopar scored 34 out of 74 marks, or 46%, during inspection and was declared non-compliant.
At a Zepto facility in Lokhandwala, officials found inadequate temperature control for perishable food, no ante-room for frozen products, poor warehouse layout and improper segregation of food, non-food items and hazardous substances. The facility scored 65 out of 140 marks, or 47%, and was also declared non-compliant.
The inspections highlight the FDA’s expanding scrutiny of not just restaurants and traditional food outlets, but also quick-commerce warehouses and online businesses involved in storing and handling food products.
FDA warns of strict action
The FDA said the inspections are aimed at ensuring that food businesses follow prescribed hygiene and food safety standards.
Officials warned that establishments violating the Food Safety and Standards Act and related regulations could face action, including improvement notices, suspension of licences and directions to stop operations.
