Mumbai’s Cafe Mondegar has been suspended by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after inspections uncovered food safety, hygiene and structural problems in the popular Colaba restaurant.
The decision to end the licence came after an FDA inspection of the place on September 12 as part of one of the state’s highest-level food-safety enforcement drives during this holiday season.
Food handling and storage at the restaurant was found to present problems as the inspection showed. Hot food was not kept above 60 degrees Celsius and cold storage facilities were not at 5 degrees Celsius, the FDA said. Control of temperature is a crucial mechanism to protect food safety and avoid spoilage and contamination.
There are also deficiencies in food-handling, the inspection also found. Such practices can give rise to food-safety risks when corrective measures are not taken. This included incorrect thawing of food items and inadequate rapid cooling of cooked food, the inspection found.
The FDA also pointed out structural and sanitation issues at the facilities. The inspection team reported moisture damage to the flooring and inadequate drainage near the food-prep area. The drainage issue can lead to cross-contamination between the different areas of food preparation, the regulator said.
Following inspection, the Maharashtra FDA suspended Cafe Mondegar’s food licence. The restaurant has been around since 1932 and has become a prominent part of Mumbai’s Colaba area. Its interiors and murals are associated with cartoonist Mario Miranda. So the regulatory action attracted much attention since it has a long history in the city.
The action against Cafe Mondegar was not an isolated action. The Maharashtra FDA also suspended licences of other food establishments after inspections revealed food safety and hygiene problems. These establishments included Maharashtra Biryani Centre in Kandivali East, Tribhuvan Dairy Farm in Ghatkopar West and Mahavir Cashew & Foods Pvt Ltd in Ghatkopar East.
The inspections are part of a wider enforcement campaign that is conducted by the state food regulator. During the festival, the FDA has increased inspections and awareness programmes to prepare food and distribute it for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
The wider campaign has included inspections of many food establishments and samples of milk, khoya, ghee and sweets. The department also took action in cases of suspected substandard or improperly stored food products.
Food safety authorities have highlighted hygiene, temperature controls, sanitation and food-handling procedures as being very important for the daily preparation and serving of food to a large number of customers.
The FDA’s action against Cafe Mondegar highlights the role of regulatory inspections in checking whether food businesses comply with prescribed safety standards. A licence suspension can continue until the deficiencies are fixed and the establishment is in compliance with applicable regulations.
The development has also brought back to the forefront the importance of food hygiene in restaurants and other commercial food establishments. To avoid contamination, proper holding of the food and storage temperature, sanitising equipment, drainage and safe handling of the food have to be carried out properly.
As the Maharashtra FDA continues its festival-season inspections, more establishments may come under scrutiny where authorities identify potential violations. Cafe Mondegar will be in the next stage to address the deficiencies identified during the inspection and comply with the food regulator’s requirements.
The suspension is a significant regulatory change for the historic Mumbai establishment and is part of a wider state-wide effort to strengthen compliance with food-safety standards during the festive period.
