The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) in the last two months have sent improvement notices to around 137 hotels and restaurants in Mumbai.
During their surprise inspections at 152 locations, they found major lapses in their functioning. Out of these, 137 were given improvement notices and 15 were asked to stop work or shut down.
These include, Coffee Day (CCD) in Vile Parle (W), Tasty Parota Corner at Dharavi, Madina Sharif Hotel at Mohammed Ali Road, Mumbai Bites in Ghatkopar East, Circle Kitchen in Malad West and Rajlaxmi Restaurant in Kanjurmarg West, Cou Cou By Oberoi at BKC, Banana Leaf at Matunga, New York Burrito in Kandivali West and Hotel Highway Inn in Andheri East among others.
FDA served them notices asking them to stop their business. It also collected a fine of INR 1,70,000 from these places for violating various norms.
A senior official claimed that establishments that received improvement notices had been given two weeks to raise the quality of their cuisine or else have to cease operations.
Joint Commissioner Food, FDA, Shailesh Adhav said that they have been raiding various spots across Mumbai. After learning that the restaurants and eateries across Mumbai were flouting food safety norms, the department decided to conduct surprise raids. Taking cognisance of the matter they are serving stop or improvement notices to eateries.
He further added that at the time of inspection, they noticed that most of the restaurants and eateries in Mumbai lacked cleanliness, had dirty kitchens, open dustbins, stale food, etc. Most importantly, the staff works without caps and gloves which is against FDA’s norms.
Shailesh Adhao said that nine of the 15 high-end hotels that have been asked to cease operations were closed earlier this month. These places include Banana Leaf in Matunga, New York Burrito in Kandivali West, Hotel Highway Inn in Andheri East, and Cou Cou By Oberoi which is a French-style bakery located at BKC's Jio World Drive.
However, in a fancy restaurant like Cou Cou By Oberoi, where one would think that the management would abide by all food safety laws, we uncovered severe lapses, Shailesh Adhao added in a statement to media representatives.
He further asserted that there was stale food, the kitchen was in poor condition, the storage area was unclean, and the temperature for storing food was not maintained. Majority of the restaurants had a few breaches related to the non-updating of pest control records, medical fitness certificates, and auditing records.
It is pertinent to note that, in September the FDA ordered to shut down three locations of the renowned restaurant chain Bademiya in the city. The food joints were discovered to be operating without a food license.
Meanwhile, a police complaint was previously filed by bank executive Anurag Singh after he saw a dead rat in his meal at Papa Pancho Da Dhaba. Two cooks and the restaurant manager were taken into custody as a result of this complaint.
Food safety inspectors (FSOs) will keep visiting the city's restaurants and cafes to make sure they're following the guidelines set forth in the Food Safety and Standard Act of 2006. An official stated, The city has 18,481 registered eateries, and we have only 13 FSOs.
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