Mumbai's iconic Rustom Ice Cream parlour shut after FDA finds rats, expired ingredients

Mumbai's iconic K Rustom & Co. ice cream parlour near Churchgate has been ordered to shut after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended its licence over serious food safety and hygiene violations, including the presence of rats, flies and expired flavouring agents.

The action was taken following a surprise inspection carried out under the FDA's 'Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra' campaign, launched under the direction of FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. The popular outlet will remain closed until laboratory reports of the seized food samples are received.

According to the FDA, inspectors found severe sanitation lapses at the decades-old ice cream parlour. Officials reportedly discovered live rats and flies inside the premises, large quantities of expired artificial flavouring agents and essences, and failures in maintaining the mandatory cold chain required for safe storage of ice cream. The expired ingredients were destroyed on the spot to prevent further use.

The licence was suspended under the Food Safety and Standards Act after authorities determined that the outlet had violated multiple food safety regulations. Officials also collected ice cream samples for laboratory testing before ordering the establishment to remain shut pending the test results.

The FDA also referred to earlier laboratory findings that reportedly showed the ice cream contained only 7.94 per cent milk fat, below the minimum 10 per cent prescribed under Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) norms, raising additional concerns over product quality.

The inspection forms part of a wider statewide crackdown on food safety violations led by Tukaram Mundhe, with authorities intensifying checks at restaurants, hotels and food establishments across Maharashtra to ensure compliance with hygiene and safety standards.