Rats, flies found: Mumbai's iconic Rustom ice cream parlour shut over hygiene lapses
Mumbai's iconic K Rustom ice cream parlour has faced licence suspension by the Maharashtra FDA following a shocking discovery of severe hygiene violations, including live rodents and substandard product quality.
Mumbai's iconic K Rustom ice cream parlour near Churchgate railway station has been ordered shut after a surprise inspection by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allegedly uncovered serious hygiene and food safety violations, including the presence of rats, flies and expired flavouring agents.
The FDA suspended the parlour's licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act as part of its "Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra" campaign. Officials said the establishment will remain closed until food sample reports are received and further action is decided.
According to the regulator, inspectors found large quantities of expired artificial flavouring agents and essences allegedly stored for use in preparing ice cream. The stock included flavours such as pistachio, pineapple, strawberry, blackcurrant, cherry, almond, lemon and mixed fruit.
The FDA said the expired products were destroyed on the spot to prevent their use.
The inspection also allegedly revealed live rodents and flies inside the premises and storage areas, along with lapses in maintaining the cold chain required for the safe storage and handling of ice cream.
Food samples collected during the inspection have been sent for laboratory testing. The FDA said an earlier external laboratory report had found that the parlour's ice cream contained 7.94 per cent milk fat, below the minimum 10 per cent level prescribed under Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) norms.
"The licence has been suspended after serious hygiene deficiencies and regulatory violations were detected during an inspection. The establishment has also been directed to remain closed until the reports of the food samples are received," the FDA said in a statement.
The inspection was carried out by Food Safety Officers Tejaswini Patil and Akash Chavan under the supervision of Joint Commissioner (Food) P R Singarwad and Assistant Commissioner (Food) and Designated Officer Anupama Patil.
Mumbai's iconic K Rustom ice cream parlour near Churchgate railway station has been ordered shut after a surprise inspection by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allegedly uncovered serious hygiene and food safety violations, including the presence of rats, flies and expired flavouring agents.
The FDA suspended the parlour's licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act as part of its "Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra" campaign. Officials said the establishment will remain closed until food sample reports are received and further action is decided.
According to the regulator, inspectors found large quantities of expired artificial flavouring agents and essences allegedly stored for use in preparing ice cream. The stock included flavours such as pistachio, pineapple, strawberry, blackcurrant, cherry, almond, lemon and mixed fruit.
The FDA said the expired products were destroyed on the spot to prevent their use.
The inspection also allegedly revealed live rodents and flies inside the premises and storage areas, along with lapses in maintaining the cold chain required for the safe storage and handling of ice cream.
Food samples collected during the inspection have been sent for laboratory testing. The FDA said an earlier external laboratory report had found that the parlour's ice cream contained 7.94 per cent milk fat, below the minimum 10 per cent level prescribed under Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) norms.
"The licence has been suspended after serious hygiene deficiencies and regulatory violations were detected during an inspection. The establishment has also been directed to remain closed until the reports of the food samples are received," the FDA said in a statement.
The inspection was carried out by Food Safety Officers Tejaswini Patil and Akash Chavan under the supervision of Joint Commissioner (Food) P R Singarwad and Assistant Commissioner (Food) and Designated Officer Anupama Patil.
