Maharashtra FDA Suspends Licences Of 6 Mumbai Food Establishments Over Paneer, Hygiene And Safety Violations

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of seven Mumbai eateries, part of a comprehensive statewide inspection conducted on August 19 and 20. This action is being taken against the backdrop of a nationwide effort, where 89 hotels, restaurants, and dhabas were scrutinized. A total of 71 establishments were given improvement notices and 13 saw their licences suspended.

The FDA uncovered a myriad of issues during its inspection, ranging from heavy oil and grease deposits on equipment to pest infestations and lapses in food storage practices.

At the 98-year-old Bombay Presidency Radio Club in Colaba, inspectors discovered a sizable infestation of live flies in the kitchen, dead cockroaches, and wrappers from pest traps near the dishwashing area. Other severe infractions included peeling paint and plaster in the food preparation zone, utensils placed directly on the floor, and staff helmets and clothing stored alongside food items.

The establishment's non-compliance score was recorded at 47 percent, leading to the immediate suspension of its licence under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The FDA's re-inspection of McDonald’s kiosk at Metro House, Colaba, revealed that 18 out of 20 previously noted deficiencies had not been rectified. These included uncalibrated refrigeration units, live cockroaches, and staff handling ready-to-eat food without washing their hands after coming into contact with soiled clothes and footwear.

Moreover, the FDA alleged that the outlet's submission of a 148-page compliance report on August 12, claiming all deficiencies were addressed, did not align with the actual findings on August 19. This discrepancy could potentially be considered an offence under Section 61 of the Act, which pertains to the submission of false information to authorities.

McDonald’s India responded to the allegations, asserting their commitment to high food safety standards and a "zero-tolerance approach to food safety issues." They further emphasized their adherence to regulatory requirements and invited customers to tour their kitchens.

The FDA also inspected Status Restaurant in Nariman Point following a customer complaint and suspended its licence immediately. The inspection revealed a staff member washing his face over clean utensils, absence of grease traps or cockroach traps, missing temperature logs, and inadequate segregation of raw, cooked, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian food.

For Khar Gymkhana in Khar West, the registration certificate was suspended due to a plethora of lapses, such as the lack of hot water for washing utensils, improper thawing of frozen food, absence of First In First Out/First Expiry First Out (FIFO/FEFO) stock rotation, and uncalibrated temperature equipment. Several other restaurants in Mumbai, including Novaara in Malad, Bajrang Sweet Mart in Santacruz West, and ASM Hotels and Hospitality Services in Andheri West, also saw their licences suspended due to hygiene and storage violations under Schedule 4 of the FSS Regulations.

The regulatory sweep extended beyond Mumbai, reaching Nagpur where Du Brothers Shawarma saw its licence suspended for hygiene violations, and Nashik where Avanti Snacks was penalized for more than a dozen lapses, including the lack of pest-proofing, an undisplayed FSSAI licence, and inadequate handwashing facilities.