Pune’s Food and Drug Administration has suspended the FSSAI registration of Punjabi Dhaba in Lohegaon with immediate effect after an inspection found food safety and hygiene deficiencies, including the use of food colours. The FDA has also warned hotels, restaurants, dhabas, sweet shops and farsan manufacturers of strict action for unauthorised use of colours in food products.
The inspection was conducted by the Pune division of the FDA. According to an official statement issued on Saturday, the establishment’s registration was suspended after the inspection identified violations related to food safety, hygiene and the use of food colours.
D V Bhogawade, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune division, said the use of a colour in a food product where that colour is not permitted under applicable Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regulations would be viewed seriously. The same applies when a permitted food colour is used beyond the prescribed limit, the official said.
The FDA said that in cases involving serious food safety violations, it may initiate immediate action, including suspension of an FSSAI licence or registration. Prosecution and court proceedings may also be filed in accordance with the law, the statement said.
The department has specifically directed hotels, restaurants, dhabas and other establishments preparing ready-to-eat food not to use food colours in prepared items unless the use of that colour is specifically permitted for the relevant category of food under FSSAI regulations. The warning applies to establishments across the food-service sector and is not limited to the Lohegaon inspection.
The FDA also said Indian sweet and farsan manufacturers must have proper knowledge and control over the food colours used in their products. These businesses commonly prepare ready-to-eat items for retail sale, making compliance with permitted categories and prescribed limits a regulatory requirement.
The action places responsibility on food businesses to verify whether a colour is allowed for a particular product before using it. The FDA’s warning indicates that violations may lead not only to regulatory action but also to prosecution or court proceedings where the department considers the food safety breach serious. The statement did not provide details of any further inspection schedule or prosecution initiated against Punjabi Dhaba.
