Maharashtra FDA suspends licences of 3 Mumbai restaurants over hygiene lapses
The latest crackdown comes shortly after the FDA ordered the closure of the iconic K Rustom ice cream parlour near Churchgate railway station after a surprise inspection allegedly found rats, flies and expired flavouring agents at the premises.
Days after shutting the iconic K Rustom ice cream parlour over serious hygiene violations, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of three well-known restaurants in Mumbai after inspections uncovered multiple breaches of food safety norms.
The action was taken against Shalimar and Noor Mohammadi restaurants in Bhendi Bazaar, and Rahmania Restaurant in Umerkhadi, following a series of inspections that found serious deficiencies in kitchen hygiene, food storage and food safety practices.
The FDA said the action followed repeated opportunities given to the establishments to rectify violations, but several shortcomings either persisted or were found during subsequent inspections.
'IMPROPER VEG, NON-VEG SEGREGATION'
Shalimar restaurant's licence was suspended on July 14 after a re-inspection found that 25 major deficiencies remained unresolved despite an improvement notice issued in April.
The restaurant was first inspected on April 16, following which the FDA served a rectification notice on April 28. However, officials said a follow-up inspection conducted on July 13 found that the establishment had failed to address several serious violations.
Among the lapses cited by the regulator were wet and slippery kitchen floors, the absence of records related to raw material procurement, failure to maintain drinking water quality reports, lack of edible oil quality records, improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and open windows without insect-proof mesh.
'BLACK GREASE ON KITCHEN FLOOR'
Noor Mohammadi's licence was suspended with immediate effect on July 14 after an inspection a day earlier revealed multiple hygiene concerns.
According to the FDA, inspectors found thick layers of black grease on kitchen floors near the kebab section, while open windows allowed flies, insects and even crows to enter food preparation areas.
The inspection also found peeling paint and grease deposits on kitchen walls and ceilings, unhygienic storage of raw materials, missing supplier records, old and unclean utensils, absence of drinking water testing records, and inadequate drainage arrangements required for effective pest control.
'POOR QUALITY KITCHEN EQUIPMENTS'
Rahmania Restaurant in Umerkhadi was also ordered to suspend operations immediately after inspectors found several violations during an inspection on July 13.
Officials cited inadequate storage arrangements for food items, chemicals and packaging material, doors without insect-proofing, rusting and poor-quality kitchen equipment, peeling paint and plaster on walls and ceilings, and the absence of mandatory food testing and drinking water quality records.
FDA WARNS OF MORE ACTION
The latest crackdown comes shortly after the FDA ordered the closure of the iconic K Rustom ice cream parlour near Churchgate railway station after a surprise inspection allegedly found rats, flies and expired flavouring agents at the premises.
The regulator said it would continue conducting inspections across the state and warned that any food business found compromising consumer health or violating food safety regulations would face stringent action, including suspension of licences.
Days after shutting the iconic K Rustom ice cream parlour over serious hygiene violations, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of three well-known restaurants in Mumbai after inspections uncovered multiple breaches of food safety norms.
The action was taken against Shalimar and Noor Mohammadi restaurants in Bhendi Bazaar, and Rahmania Restaurant in Umerkhadi, following a series of inspections that found serious deficiencies in kitchen hygiene, food storage and food safety practices.
The FDA said the action followed repeated opportunities given to the establishments to rectify violations, but several shortcomings either persisted or were found during subsequent inspections.
'IMPROPER VEG, NON-VEG SEGREGATION'
Shalimar restaurant's licence was suspended on July 14 after a re-inspection found that 25 major deficiencies remained unresolved despite an improvement notice issued in April.
The restaurant was first inspected on April 16, following which the FDA served a rectification notice on April 28. However, officials said a follow-up inspection conducted on July 13 found that the establishment had failed to address several serious violations.
Among the lapses cited by the regulator were wet and slippery kitchen floors, the absence of records related to raw material procurement, failure to maintain drinking water quality reports, lack of edible oil quality records, improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and open windows without insect-proof mesh.
'BLACK GREASE ON KITCHEN FLOOR'
Noor Mohammadi's licence was suspended with immediate effect on July 14 after an inspection a day earlier revealed multiple hygiene concerns.
According to the FDA, inspectors found thick layers of black grease on kitchen floors near the kebab section, while open windows allowed flies, insects and even crows to enter food preparation areas.
The inspection also found peeling paint and grease deposits on kitchen walls and ceilings, unhygienic storage of raw materials, missing supplier records, old and unclean utensils, absence of drinking water testing records, and inadequate drainage arrangements required for effective pest control.
'POOR QUALITY KITCHEN EQUIPMENTS'
Rahmania Restaurant in Umerkhadi was also ordered to suspend operations immediately after inspectors found several violations during an inspection on July 13.
Officials cited inadequate storage arrangements for food items, chemicals and packaging material, doors without insect-proofing, rusting and poor-quality kitchen equipment, peeling paint and plaster on walls and ceilings, and the absence of mandatory food testing and drinking water quality records.
FDA WARNS OF MORE ACTION
The latest crackdown comes shortly after the FDA ordered the closure of the iconic K Rustom ice cream parlour near Churchgate railway station after a surprise inspection allegedly found rats, flies and expired flavouring agents at the premises.
The regulator said it would continue conducting inspections across the state and warned that any food business found compromising consumer health or violating food safety regulations would face stringent action, including suspension of licences.
