FDA sends notice to MHADA canteen contractor over unhealthy food

Recently, an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that the canteen situated at the head office of MHADA Building provides unsafe and unhealthy food. Shailesh Aadhav, Joint Commissioner, Food (Mumbai) told Mumbai Live that the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) contractor, who was the canteen supervisor, received a notice from FDA.

FDA conducted a raid on the MHADA canteen which revealed that the food that was being served at the canteen was unhealthy and perilous for the MHADA officials who were eating the food. However, the question of safety of the MHADA officials consuming the food is surfacing after the inspection by FDA.

Besides MHADA office, the building consists of offices of State Women’s Commission, Maharashtra Bank, Woman’s Financial Development Corporation and several other government organisations. All the people working at the offices in the building resort to the canteen situated on the ground floor of the building for breakfast and lunch.

Despite so many people consuming the food, the canteen did not pay heed to cleanliness standards. The officials often complained about flies buzzing on the food and ants seen roaming near the food, but the contractor did not take any measures to improve the hygiene standards of the place.

Eventually, FDA Mumbai received information about this and on August 1, the administration conducted a raid on the canteen. And the officials noticed that the contractor had been violating the “Food Safety and Standards Act”. It was observed that items were being cooked in a unhygienic space, food was being kept open and unsuitable ingredients were being used. FDA even took samples of curd and the gram flour and sent them for inspection. The administration has stated that legal action will be taken against the contractor on the basis of the report.

FDA sent a 15-day notice to the contractor on August 4 after the inspection. As per the notice, the contractor has been given time of 15 days to improve the canteen’s state. If the contractor does not make any changes, the FDA has declared that his licence will be cancelled.