FSSAI suspends Switz Foods licence over hygiene, safety violations
Synopsis
FSSAI has suspended Switz Foods Private Limited's food business licence after inspectors found a cascade of violations — from pest infestation and rusted equipment to unlabelled ready-to-eat chicken sandwiches. The company cannot resume operations until every deficiency is corrected, a reminder that food safety enforcement is active and consequential.
Key Takeaways
FSSAI suspended the food business licence of Switz Foods Private Limited on 1 August following a facility inspection.
Inspectors found food produced, packed, and stored under unhygienic conditions , raising contamination risks.
Significant pest infestation — flies, mosquitoes, and fruit flies — along with rusted equipment, leaking AC pipelines, and a non-functional crate-washing unit were documented.
Improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian products and missing date markings on raw materials were cited as violations.
A ready-to-eat chicken sandwich was found without mandatory labelling, breaching the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 .
The company must achieve full regulatory compliance before it can resume any food business operations.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Saturday, 1 August suspended the food business licence of Switz Foods Private Limited following an inspection of its manufacturing facility that uncovered serious breaches of food safety and hygiene standards. The regulator has ordered the company to halt all food business operations at the facility with immediate effect until every identified deficiency is fully rectified.
What the Inspection Found
FSSAI inspectors documented multiple non-conformities that, according to the authority, posed a significant risk to public health. Food products were being manufactured, packed, and stored under unhygienic conditions, raising the likelihood of contamination. Poor cleaning and sanitation standards were observed across the facility, including in the crate-washing area, the non-vegetarian food reception section, and the washing area adjacent to the carrot-cutting machine.
Several pieces of equipment and food-contact surfaces — including machinery, crates, trays, trolleys, moulds, and heated kettles — were found to be inadequately cleaned and maintained. Inspectors additionally noted water leaking from air-conditioning pipelines directly over the product storage area, while the crate-washing equipment was found to be non-functional.
Structural and Pest-Related Failures
The inspection report cited rust and corrosion on food-processing equipment and utensils, inadequate lighting and ventilation, and improper storage arrangements for food materials, chemicals, and staff belongings. The regulator also flagged significant pest infestation — including flies, mosquitoes, and fruit flies — alongside cobwebs, damp walls, peeling paint, broken floor tiles, and oil residue spread across the premises.
Labelling and Segregation Lapses
Beyond physical hygiene, FSSAI found improper segregation between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food products, as well as between semi-finished and finished goods. Raw materials and intermediate products lacked mandatory date markings. In a particularly notable finding, a ready-to-eat chicken sandwich was discovered without the required labelling, a direct violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
What Happens Next
FSSAI communicated the suspension order via its official account on social media platform X, underscoring the public-interest dimension of the action. The company will remain barred from resuming operations until it demonstrates full compliance with food safety regulations to the satisfaction of the authority. No timeline for reinstatement has been indicated, and the onus of remediation rests entirely with Switz Foods Private Limited. This action signals that FSSAI is maintaining active surveillance of food manufacturing facilities, and further inspections across the sector are likely.
Point of View
Pest infestation, mislabelled ready-to-eat products, and broken sanitation equipment found simultaneously in one facility. That combination suggests systemic neglect rather than an isolated lapse. For consumers, the case raises a harder question: how many similar facilities are operating below standard between inspections? FSSAI's use of its X account to publicise the suspension is a deliberate accountability signal, but enforcement credibility ultimately depends on the frequency and rigour of follow-through inspections — not just the headline suspensions.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did FSSAI suspend Switz Foods Private Limited's licence?
FSSAI suspended Switz Foods Private Limited's food business licence after an inspection of its manufacturing facility revealed serious food safety and hygiene violations, including pest infestation, rusted equipment, unhygienic storage, and unlabelled ready-to-eat products. The authority determined that these conditions posed a significant risk to food safety.
What specific violations were found at the Switz Foods facility?
Inspectors documented unhygienic manufacturing and storage conditions, poor sanitation in multiple areas, rust and corrosion on food-contact equipment, a non-functional crate-washing unit, water leaking from AC pipelines over storage areas, significant pest infestation, improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian products, missing date markings on raw materials, and a ready-to-eat chicken sandwich without mandatory labelling.
Can Switz Foods resume operations?
No. FSSAI has directed Switz Foods Private Limited to immediately stop all food business activities at the facility. The company will only be permitted to resume operations once all identified deficiencies have been rectified and the facility achieves full compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
What law governs FSSAI's power to suspend food licences?
FSSAI derives its authority from the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which empowers the regulator to suspend or cancel food business licences when inspections reveal violations that pose a risk to public health and food safety.
How did FSSAI communicate the suspension order?
FSSAI announced the suspension through its official account on social media platform X, directing Switz Foods to halt operations immediately. The public announcement is consistent with the regulator's practice of using official channels to inform consumers and the industry of enforcement actions.
