Otters Club, Prince of Wales and Zepto among six to face licence suspensions as Maharashtra FDA action continues

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration FDA on Tuesday said that six food establishments in Mumbai had their licences or registrations suspended following inspections that found violations of food safety hygiene and storage normsAmong those facing action were Otters Club in Bandra West Daily Fresh Bakers amp Cakes in Dahisar East Prince of Wales Restaurant in Khar West Raj Oil Trading in Vile Parle East Cafe Sifarish in Marol and a Zepto facility in ChemburAn FDA inspection of a Zepto facility in Chembur on August 12 found several alleged food safety and hygiene violationsOfficials said the chilled nonvegetarian food section was at 9 degrees Celsius against the required 5 degrees Celsius or below while the frozen food section recorded 11 degrees Celsius instead of the required 18 degrees Celsius or belowThe FDA also reported inadequate ventilation and lighting damaged surfaces oil spillage dust on exhaust fans pestcontrol concerns and poor cleaning and waste disposalAn improvement notice was issued but the department said the required compliance report was not submitted within the stipulated period leading to suspension of the food licenceAction after weeks of inspectionsThe FDA continued its food safety crackdown across the state with six Mumbai establishments among those facing licence action during inspections carried out between July 14 and August 17The statewide drive targeted hotels restaurants bakeries dairy products edible oils and prohibited products such as gutkha and pan masala The FDA said food stocks worth around Rs 107 crore were seized during the campaign officials saidOtters Club licence suspended over analogue paneerAn official statement said that at Otters Club in Bandra West inspected on August 17 officials said they found a product sold under the name Regular Paneer that was identified as analogue paneerThe FDA said the use storage and sale of analogue paneer and similar products are prohibited in MaharashtraInspectors also found unhygienic flooring damaged tiles a partially blocked drain and faulty refrigerator gaskets that affected temperature control The clubs FSSAI licence was suspended on August 18Expired food colour found at Dahisar bakeryAt Daily Fresh Bakers amp Cakes in Dahisar East the FDA found cakes being prepared on a tiled surface along with the presence of cockroaches flies and antsOfficials also found an expired food colour being used The establishment had a retail registration but was allegedly carrying out manufacturing activitiesThe FDA further reported that documents including food and water test reports and a FoSTaC training certificate were not available The oven baking trays and other equipment were also found in an unclean conditionKhar Vile Parle and Marol establishments face actionThe registration certificate of Prince of Wales Restaurant in Khar West was suspended after inspectors found shortcomings in temperature control storage pest prevention equipment hygiene and waste disposalAt Raj Oil Trading in Vile Parle East officials reported poor storage arrangements hygiene issues and inadequate temperature and humidity control Some oil packets reportedly showed signs of rodent damage while an unpleasant smell was detected in the storage area Its food licence was suspendedCafe Sifarish in Marol also faced licence suspension following reported shortcomings in temperature control food storage pest prevention equipment hygiene and facilities for workers personal hygieneStatewide drive leads to seven FIRs 10 arrestsThe FDA said it registered seven FIRs over the sale distribution and transportation of prohibited food products including gutkha and pan masalaTen people were arrested and prohibited food stocks worth Rs 9939 lakh were seizedThe Pune division recorded seizures worth Rs 1007 lakh with seven arrests and three FIRs In Nashik prohibited products worth Rs 8836 lakh were seized while two FIRs were registered and two people arrestedColostrum worth Rs 212 lakh seized in PalgharAt the Charoti toll plaza on the MumbaiAhmedabad Highway in Palghar on August 17 officials seized around 254640 units of colostrum valued at approximately Rs 212 lakhThe FDA said the stock was being transported without proper labelling and under unhygienic conditions with inadequate temperature control The entire stock was subsequently destroyed65 food establishments inspectedAcross Maharashtra the FDA inspected 65 hotels restaurants dhabas and other food establishments during the driveAs many as 50 establishments received improvement notices while licences or registrations of eight establishments were suspendedThe department also seized other food products including rabdi gulab jamun premix pedha and expired cumin after finding alleged deficiencies in storage labelling temperature control or product qualityFDA warns businesses urges citizens to report violationsThe FDA said inspections will continue across Maharashtra and warned food businesses to comply with food safety hygiene storage and temperaturecontrol requirementsFDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe under whose guidance the Safe Food Safe Maharashtra campaign is being conducted said strict action would continue against adulteration and the sale storage or manufacture of prohibited productsCitizens have been urged to report suspected food adulteration or foodquality violations through the Food Safety Connect app FoSCoS portal the FDA grievance portal or the departments tollfree number 1800222365