FDA suspends licences of Mumbai’s iconic Noor Mohammadi, Shalimar and Rahmania restaurant over alleged hygiene lapses

Days after Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration FDA suspended the license of K Rustom amp Co in Churchgate it has taken action on Mumbairsquos iconic Noor Mohammadi Shalimar and Rahmania restaurant over alleged hygiene lapses officials said on TuesdayThe FDArsquos Mumbai division suspended the food licences of three wellknown restaurants after inspections revealed serious hygiene and food safety violationsShalimar Hospitality Pvt Ltd Bhendi BazaarThe licence of the establishment was suspended after officials found 25 major violations during a reinspectionThe issues included wet and slippery kitchen floors lack of raw material records absence of drinking water testing reports missing oil quality records poor separation between vegetarian and nonvegetarian food items and open windows without insect protectionNoor Mohammadi Hotel Bhendi BazaarThe licence was suspended after officials found unhygienic conditions including thick oil deposits on kitchen floors insect entry points poor storage of raw materials lack of supplier records use of old utensils and missing water quality testing recordsRahmania Restaurant Umar KhadiThe establishment faced immediate licence suspension after officials found inadequate storage arrangements lack of pestcontrol measures damaged equipment poor maintenance of walls and ceilings and absence of food quality testing recordsThe FDA also issued a notice to Amravati Darbar in Amravati after finding that it was operating without a valid food licenceMajor statewide enforcement driveThe FDA has launched a major statewide enforcement drive against food safety violations seizing food items and related materials worth Rs 168 crore during inspections conducted on July 13 an official statement said on TuesdayThe action covered milk and dairy products banned tobaccobased food items restaurants hotels and other food establishments across MaharashtraThe FDA carried out eight major raids and inspected 32 hotels restaurants and eateries issuing improvement notices to eight establishments and suspending licences of four food businessesBhiwandi warehouse raided Rs 1 cr milk powder stock seizedDuring a special inspection campaign targeting milk and dairy products FDA officials raided a warehouse operated by Ms Sai Cargo Movers at Purna village in Bhiwandi Thane districtOfficials found 22100 kg of Spray Dried Skimmed Milk Powder stored at the facility The stock was valued at around Rs 1 croreThe FDA suspected that the product was misbranded and substandard Samples were collected and sent for laboratory testing Further legal action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 after receiving the test reportsThe department said strict action would continue against those compromising public health through adulterated or unsafe food productsCrackdown on banned gutkha and tobacco productsThe FDA also intensified action against banned food products such as gutkha and flavoured tobaccoIn Amravati officials seized banned pan masala and scented tobacco worth Rs 55 lakh including a truck allegedly used for transportationThe seized items includedPan Masala worth Rs 3120 lakhScented tobacco worth Rs 780 lakhTruck worth Rs 16 lakhA case was registered at Tivsa Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNSSeizures reported from Virar Mira Road and RaigadThe FDA also conducted raids in other parts of Maharashtra In Virar East banned food products worth Rs 196 lakh were seized and a case was registered In Mira Road banned products worth Rs 2857 were confiscated and legal proceedings were initiated In Raigad officials seized banned food items worth around Rs 990 lakh during a joint operation with Navi Mumbai Crime BranchThe FDA said investigations are underway and further action will followUnsafe and mislabelled food products seized in MarathwadaUnder the ldquoSafe Food Safe Maharashtrardquo campaign FDA officials from the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division seized 638 litreskg of suspected and mislabelled food products from Latur and Dharashiv districtsIn Latur officials seized 160 kg of mislabelled Sonpapdi worth Rs 25600 428 litres of suspected Mango Fruit drink worth Rs 13910In Dharashiv officials seized 50 litres of Mango Drink after investigating a suspected food poisoning incidentThe total value of these seized products was estimated at Rs 42010Citizens urged to report food safety complaintsFDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the department would continue strict action against businesses violating food safety rulesCitizens can report complaints regarding food quality through the FoSCoS Portal the Food Safety Connect app or the tollfree number 1800222365