Mumbai food safety crackdown: Every licence suspended since Tukaram Mundhe took charge as FDA chief

Since taking charge as the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration FDA Commissioner earlier this year IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe has launched an aggressive crackdown on food safety violations across Mumbai suspending the licences of several prominent restaurants clubs bakeries and food establishments for failing to comply with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India FSSAI normsThe enforcement drive has focused on hygiene lapses pest infestations poor food storage practices inadequate sanitation missing statutory records and other violations under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006The inspections have led to the suspension of food business licences at some of Mumbais wellknown eateries and recreational clubsHeres a look at the establishments whose licences have been suspended so farSports clubs and gymkhanas under scannerThe FDA suspended the food business licences of several prominent sports clubs and gymkhanas after inspections revealed sanitation deficiencies inadequate segregation of vegetarian and nonvegetarian food poorly maintained kitchen equipment and other food safety violationsThe clubs includeCricket Club of India CCI ChurchgateMIG Cricket Club Bandra EastWillingdon Sports Club MahalaxmiRK Juhu Gymkhana JuhuAparna Juhu Gymkhana JuhuMeanwhile Goregaon Sports Club was issued a stopbusiness notice after officials found it operating without a valid food business licenceRestaurants ordered to suspend operationsSeveral iconic and popular restaurants across Mumbai were also directed to halt food operations following FDA inspectionsSome of these areNoor Mohammadi Hotel Bhendi Bazaar ndash Licence suspended over heavy grease accumulation open windows increasing pest risks near food preparation areas and the absence of mandatory water quality testing recordsShalimar Hospitality Pvt Ltd Bhendi Bazaar ndash Suspended after a reinspection found 25 previously identified hygiene and food storage deficiencies had not been rectifiedRehmania Restaurant Umerkhadi ndash Action taken due to improper food storage rusted kitchen equipment and inadequate hygiene documentationFlint amp Waarsa Nariman Point Aditya Birla Group ndash Licence suspended for alleged misbranding violations and the presence of expired food stockMadras Diaries Bandra ndash Suspended for noncompliance with hygiene standards and missing mandatory food safety recordsHotel Gopalkrishna Santacruz East ndash Licence suspended after inspectors detected rodent infestation and severe drainage odour inside kitchen areasHotel ShrikrishnaSujit Bar amp Restaurant Bhandup ndash Action taken over poorly maintained refrigeration systems and unhygienic kitchen conditionsKarak Enterprises Pvt Ltd Andheri ndash Suspended after inspectors found a severe cockroach infestation and missing employee medical fitness recordsK Rustom amp Co ndash The iconic decadesold ice cream sandwich establishment at Brabourne Stadium House in Churchgate was also hit with an immediate license suspension by the Maharashtra FDA A surprise inspection revealed severe hygiene lapses and food safety noncomplianceFDA cracks down on bakeriesThe crackdown also extended to commercial and legacy bakeries across Mumbai where inspections reportedly uncovered pest infestations unhygienic food preparation conditions and other violationsThe bakeries includeBristol BakeryJimmy Boy Mahim WestAnmol Bakery amp Stores Andheri EastNew Maharashtra Bakery amp Stores ChemburSaba Bakery amp Stores GoregaonUnnati Bakery DahisarMK Bakery BorivaliStrict enforcement under Tukaram MundheSince assuming office Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has repeatedly emphasised that food businesses must strictly comply with FSSAI regulations relating to hygiene sanitation food handling food storage employee health records and kitchen maintenanceThe ongoing enforcement drive signals one of the Maharashtra FDAs most extensive food safety crackdowns in recent years with inspections continuing across restaurants hotels clubs bakeries canteens and other food establishments in MumbaiOfficials have maintained that businesses failing to meet prescribed food safety standards will continue to face suspension and other regulatory action until deficiencies are fully rectified