Maharashtra FDA Suspends Licenses Of Radio Club, Mcdonald's Outlet In South Mumbai

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of the Bombay Presidency Radio Club and a McDonald's outlet in south Mumbai along with 11 other food establishments across the state for alleged violations of food safety and hygiene norms, officials said on Friday.

The FDA is in news since IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe took charge as its commissioner in May and launched a crackdown on food establishments found violating various laws and rules.

In a recent special drive, it inspected 89 hotels, restaurants and dhabas across the state, and issued improvement notices to 71 establishments while suspending the licences of 13 food establishments, an official release said.

During an inspection carried out on August 19, Radio Club recorded a non-compliance rate of 47%, and was asked to stop all purchase, sale and distribution of food during the suspension period, it said.

Officials allegedly found a large number of live flies and dead cockroaches in the Club's kitchen. They also allegedly found peeling paint and plaster on the ceiling above food preparation areas, washing powder and other chemicals stored close to food items, food kept directly on the floor, and unclean refrigerators used for non-vegetarian food.

There was improper thawing of food and the inadequately sealed kitchen door could allow pests and contaminants to enter, while garbage bins were placed near cooking stoves, the FDA said. Spitting marks were also found on the premises, it claimed.

Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd's McDonald's Family Restaurant kiosk at Metro House in Colaba faced immediate suspension of its FSSAI licence. During a re-inspection on August 19, officials found that 18 of the 20 deficiencies listed in an earlier improvement notice had not been rectified, the FDA said.

The FDA allegedly found uncalibrated refrigeration equipment, live cockroaches, lack of pest traps, rotting food waste on the kitchen floor, dirty cleaning cloths and dust-covered light fixtures without protective shields. Employees were also found handling ready-to-eat food without washing their hands after handling dirty footwear and soiled cleaning cloths.

The FDA said the outlet had submitted a 148-page compliance report on August 12. But the reinspection found most serious deficiencies still present.

Officials also allegedly found the use of a processed non-dairy or analogue preparation, "GO Cheese SAUCE", despite claims displayed to customers about the use of real cheese and paneer.

In a statement, McDonald's India spokesperson said it has a zero-tolerance approach to food safety issues. "We respect the regulatory process and are reviewing the observations referenced in the report. McDonald's follows rigorous food quality, safety and hygiene standards, in line with regulatory requirements, including the use of real cheese and real paneer in our food," it said.

Ingenious Kitchens Pvt Ltd, operating Novaara restaruant in Malad, also lost its food business licence after the FDA found that 14 of 25 serious deficiencies recorded in an earlier improvement notice remained unresolved during a reinspection on August 13.

The deficiencies at Novaara included the use of old kitchen utensils and equipment that did not conform to food safety standards, absence of grease and cockroach traps in the drainage line, and inadequate medical examination records for food handlers.

Status Restaurant at Nariman Point faced immediate suspension on Thursday following a customer complaint. The FDA found, among other lapses, an employee washing his face directly over clean food utensils, causing wastewater to splash onto them. Officials also found employees working without complete personal protective equipment, dirty crockery, stagnant water, grease and oil deposits, rust and food waste, the release said.

The FDA also suspended the registration certificate of Khar Gymkhana in Khar West after allegedly finding serious hygiene and food safety violations. The inspection found inadequate storage arrangements, poor cleanliness in the food preparation area, inadequate segregation of raw and prepared food, lack of hot water for washing utensils and improper thawing of frozen food.

Other establishments in Mumbai which faced suspension of license included Bajrang Sweet Mart in Santacruz West and ASM Hotels and Hospitality Services Pvt Ltd in Andheri West.

Outside Mumbai, the FDA suspended the licences of Du Brothers Shawarma in Nagpur, Avanti Snacks in Nashik and Pintu Yadav Sweets in Amravati.

The FDA also suspended the food business licences of three establishments in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Parbhani -- Chhappan Bhog Thali Restaurant and Banquet Hall, MHARO Gayatri Mewad Pvt Ltd and Star Bakery for sanitation and food safety violations.