Maharashtra FDA crackdown: 12 food establishments face action over hygiene violations

Tukaram Mundheled Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration FDA has conducted a statewide crackdown amid the festive season between September 28 and 30As per the official press note issued on Thursday October 1 FDA has suspended the licences of 12 food establishments in Mumbai following inspections that revealed serious food safety and hygiene violationsFDA suspends food licence of 12 Mumbaibased establishmentsThe Mumbai establishments facing action include eateries bakeries a hospital canteen and food storage facilities Inspectors reported violations such as pest infestations unhygienic food preparation improper storage of ingredients accumulated waste and the absence of mandatory food safety recordsFDA during the festive crackdown suspended the food licence of the following establishmentsAnnadata Aahar Kendra Zunka Bhakar Kendra Khar W As per FDA officials water accumulation was reported in the food preparation area and houseflies and ants were found They also highlighted that the Kharbased establishmentrsquos staff were working without gloves and head caps New English Bakery Girgaon FDA officials during the inspection found that the dough was being filled into pans on the floor itself and finished products were kept uncovered As per FDA workers were working barefoot without aprons gloves or head capsSt Philomena Bakery Mazgaon FDA while suspending the licence reported that the workers were sitting on the floor while filling dough into pans and newspaper was being used in utensils that come into contact with foodBlink Commerce Pvt Ltd Sion Koliwada FDA highlighted that the deficiencies listed earlier in the improvement notice issued by FDA were not rectified the establishments licence has been suspended until further ordersBlink Commerce Pvt Ltd Sewri W FDA noted following an inspection on September 13 an improvement notice was issued to this establishment on September 19 Furthermore a reinspection was carried out on September 29 in which the establishment scored 57 out of 68 84 per cent however the final outcome was recorded as Non CompliancerdquoRadha Krishna Eatery Borivali W As per the officials FDA found water was accumulated in the main kitchen and an open dustbin was kept there The officials also found the drainage system was open and the drains had no grease trap or cockroach trapP R Jena Caterers BKC Several serious deficiencies were found during the inspection The FDA found live flies in the establishment The officials further noted that potatoes and onions were kept in front of the toilet while seafood was stored unhygienically in the refrigeratorOther establishments that faced action areSodexo India Services Private Limited Kurla WestCanteen at Shatabdi Hospital GovandiFavourite Takeaway ndash Dadar WestSwinsta Enterprises Private Limited ndash ChemburKohinoor Hospitality Management Applied Training Centre Dadar West10 ThaneRaigad based establishments face actionThe FDA suspended the licences or registration certificates of 12 establishments in Konkan Division including nine in Thane district and three in Raigad districtThe establishments in Thane district areMaxoil Enterprises Wagle Estate Thane WestHyderabad House Kavesar Waghbil Thane WestPratish Enterprises LLP R Mall Ghodbunder Road Thane WestJai Bharat Restaurant Station Road Thane WestNeelkamal Bakery Kalyan WestNew Sunrise Bakery Kolsewadi Kalyan EastNew Good Luck Bakery and Store Kalwa WestGulistan Family Restaurant Kausa MumbraR K Dairy Kharegaon KalwaIn Raigad district action was taken againstDattarey Restaurant in KarjatRushita Foods in Khalapur and Culinary Brands India Private Limited operating under the Subway brand in KhalapurThe FDA cited violations of prescribed food safety and hygiene requirements under the Food Safety and Standards Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses Regulations 2011Six establishments in Pune Division face actionIn Pune Division the licences of six establishments were suspended for violating food safety and hygiene requirementsThese include Sai Prasad Veg in Navi Peth Manas Family Satara Resto and Lounge at Balgandharva Chowk in Shivajinagar Hotel Malaj on Sinhagad Road Navale Hospitality Shivarsh Veg Restaurant on the PuneBangalore Highway in Warje Hotel Rajput in Shirur and J K Chinese in BaramatiThe FDA stated that the establishments had violated licence conditions and the prescribed provisions under Schedule 4 of the food safety regulationsFake Amul cheese misbranded sweets and ghee seized by FDAThe crackdown also resulted in the seizure of several suspected substandard and misbranded food products from manufacturers distributors and retailers across the stateIn the Pune district approximately 430 kg of cheese valued at Rs 257 lakh was detained at the premises of Yasin Sayyed Khan alias Sajid Khan in Uruli Devachi The cheese was allegedly being stored and sold under the Amul brand name despite being fake or misbranded Samples were collected for further analysisThe FDA also detained suspected substandard and misbranded sweets including Balushahi Juicy Stick and Gulabjamun at Pandian Products and Selling in Saswad Pune districtAt Lakheshwar Dairy in Warje Pune inspectors found ghee being packed and supplied to retailers without mandatory label declarations The stock was detained and samples were collected for analysisOther establishments facing action included Morbiwala Sweets and Namkeen in Pune where suspected substandard Papdi and Puri namkeen were seized and Satvik Milk Products in Ichalkaranji Kolhapur where approximately 1820 kg of unlabelled lowfat paneer valued at Rs 6188 was detained18 arrested in crackdown on illegal food productsIn a separate statewide operation against banned food products the FDA inspected 19 establishments across five divisions and found prohibited products at 18 of themAuthorities seized banned stock worth Rs 6116 lakh and two vehicles valued at Rs 650 lakh taking the total value of seized goods to Rs 6767 lakh FIRs were registered against 14 establishments 18 people were arrested and 13 establishments were sealed