Lucknow: In one of its most sweeping enforcement actions in recent years, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) carried out coordinated inspections across seven of Lucknow’s busiest shopping malls, sealing four outlets and issuing improvement notices to several others. The statewide operation, ordered directly by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is being seen as a decisive push to curb chronic lapses in Uttar Pradesh’s fast-growing retail food sector.
Fourteen special FSDA teams fanned out simultaneously to Lulu Mall, Phoenix Palassio, Phoenix United (Alambagh and Kanpur Road), Wave Mall, One Awadh Center (Cinepolis), Fun Republic, and Saharaganj Mall. Their target: the bustling food courts and high-footfall restaurants that anchor these commercial hubs. By the end of the day, violations ranging from unhygienic kitchens to tampered expiry labels had surfaced—confirming what regulators have long suspected: that many mall-based eateries continue to compromise consumer safety under the veneer of modern retail.
This is hardly unfamiliar terrain for the state’s watchdogs. Over the past two years, malls across Uttar Pradesh—particularly in Lucknow—have emerged as repeat offenders in FSDA investigations. From unauthorized Halal certifications to expired packaged foods and adulterated ingredients, the pattern of violations has raised questions about both enforcement capacity and corporate compliance culture. Regulators say the problem intensifies during festive peaks, when soaring demand often overtakes oversight.
In November 2023, multiple malls in Lucknow, including Sahara Mall, Fun Mall, and Lulu Mall, were raided for selling unauthorized Halal-certified products, including spices, honey, and cosmetics. Even large national chains operating from air-conditioned aisles were caught flouting norms: Spencer’s Retail in Ashiana Emerald Mall and Reliance outlets in Vikas Nagar were singled out for selling unverified goods, exposing systemic weaknesses in retail supply chains. Officials had then warned that such practices not only misled consumers but posed real risks to public health.
The problem resurfaced just weeks before the recent crackdown. In November 2025, FSDA’s late-night raids on sweet shops—including those in mall-adjacent commercial pockets—uncovered nearly Rs 20 lakh worth of rotten and adulterated mithai in the run-up to Diwali. A staggering 595 kg of sweets was declared unsafe, and dozens of samples were sent for testing.
These recurring lapses reflect a broader statewide challenge. Uttar Pradesh recorded a failure rate of 54.3% for food samples tested in 2024–25—the highest in the country. Consumer forums logged 88 complaints related to food and beverages from UP over two years, many tied directly to mall eateries. Experts attribute the trend to understaffed inspections and a commercial model where mall managements prioritise footfall and brand presence over rigorous compliance audits.
At Lulu Mall, the entire food manufacturing and sales section of Lulu Hypermarket was sealed after inspectors discovered tampering of manufacturing and expiry dates on packaged items. Officials also flagged misuse of an FSSAI licence belonging to an incorrect category. The “Gaburu Da Chaap” outlet was sealed for operating without any valid licence. Samples were lifted from Tunde Kebabi, Karim’s, Chili’s, and other popular eateries.
At One Awadh Center, the KFC outlet was sealed, with inspectors citing “grossly unhygienic and unsanitary conditions.” KFC has faced repeated scrutiny in past FSDA operations, including a notable 2023 inspection in Moradabad.
Phoenix Palassio, one of the busiest malls in Lucknow, logged the highest number of samples—10 in total—from outlets including Sky Grill, Royal Café, Moti Mahal, and Chhappan Bhog. In a rare exception, Pizza Hut, Earzz, and Choco Fountain were found fully compliant, emerging as bright spots in a largely troubling scan of 61 outlets across the city, 51 of which showed irregularities.
At Wave Mall, improvement notices were issued to KFC, Barista, Centurion, and Tamasha.
At Fun Republic, notices went to Bikanervala, Nathu’s, KFC, Madrasi Dosa, and several others—extending a pattern of violations that dates back to the Spencer’s seizures of 2023.
At Phoenix United (Kanpur Road), inspections covered Burger King, Dosa Planet, Biryani Blues, Café Coffee Day, and more, with samples lifted for analysis.
A senior FSDA officer, speaking after the raid, confirmed that the Chief Minister was “personally monitoring the operation,” adding: “Any establishment—big or small—that compromises public health will face strict action. Sealed outlets will remain shut until full compliance is achieved and verified through re-inspection.”
More than 70 samples have been dispatched for laboratory testing, and results are expected within 72 hours. Officials have warned that further closures may follow if adulteration or substandard ingredients are detected—an approach that has previously led to penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The FSDA has urged consumers to report food safety violations through the FoSCoS portal or the state helpline, signaling an increased emphasis on public vigilance.
