The Maharashtra food and drug administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of four Domino's Pizza outlets in the state, including three in Mumbai, for alleged violations of food safety and hygiene rules, officials said on Wednesday.Four Domino's Pizza outlets had their licences suspended as part of the crackdown. (REUTERS/File Photo)The move comes amid a series of inspections in Maharashtra and Karnataka over food safety and hygiene violations. In Bengaluru, a Zepto warehouse was sealed, while a Blinkit facility in Malad (West) had its licence suspended for similar violations.ALSO READ | Zepto in Bengaluru, Blinkit in Mumbai: Quick-commerce sites in focus over food safety violationsLicences suspended of 4 Domino's Pizza outlets in MaharashtraFour Domino's Pizza outlets had their licences suspended as part of the crackdown. Three of the outlets are in Mumbai, while the fourth is in Satara district in western Maharashtra, news agency PTI reported, quoting a statement by the FDA, headed by IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe.In Mumbai, the FDA took action against Domino's Pizza outlets run by Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd at Vile Parle West, Borivali West and R-City Mall in Ghatkopar West as part of the special drive, it said.The Vile Parle outlet was found lacking in areas including the display of its FSSAI licence, availability of potable water, food storage, pest control and hygiene facilities, the FDA said. It was also instructed to properly monitor the temperature of frozen food, keep food and non-food items separate, prevent rodent and pest infestations, and provide suitable hand-washing and hygiene facilities.At the Borivali outlet, the FDA recorded 15 per cent non-compliance and ordered corrective action in areas such as food storage, temperature checks, food testing, cleanliness and pest control. The outlet was also told to keep raw and cooked food separate, maintain separate arrangements for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and regularly sanitise equipment and utensils.The Ghatkopar outlet was found to have shortcomings in cleanliness, sanitation schedules and pest control. It also did not maintain the required temperature for food storage, the FDA said.The authority also found that food-grade certificates and records for calibration, preventive maintenance, food and water testing, and food safety were not available.The licence of a Domino's Pizza outlet run by Jubilant FoodWorks at Malkapur was also suspended, along with those of two fast-food outlets operated by Sapphire Foods India at Karad in Satara district, the FDA said.The Malkapur outlet recorded about 40 per cent non-compliance as the FDA flagged shortcomings in basic facilities, equipment, cleanliness and pest control.At the Karad outlets, the authority ordered corrective steps for pizza preparation, including the use of separate ovens, proper separation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian pizzas, separate pans, and correct labelling of sauces and pizza toppings with packing and expiry dates.FDA's special drive in MaharashtraThe FDA's special inspection drive covered 104 chain restaurant establishments across Maharashtra. Two establishments were ordered to stop operations, 95 received improvement notices, and the licences of five establishments were suspended, the FDA said.The drive included brands such as Domino's Pizza, KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald's, Subway, Burger King, Starbucks and Monginis.In total, the FDA inspected 104 fast-food chain outlets across Maharashtra. The authority also inspected 120 other hotel establishments in recent days. It issued 54 improvement notices and suspended 11 food business licences, it said.With inputs from PTI