Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration has taken harsh action by stopping two mess facilities at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Bombay campus at Powai. Mess facilities of the hostels Hostel Number One and Hostel Number Two were not licensed and registered according to food safety rules. The mess facilities were not licensed and registered by the state regulatory authority after inspections and the state regulatory authority has directed that they shut down for a period of time until they are in compliance with the law and regulations.
In addition to total shutdown orders for the first two hostels, the FDA inspection team targeted mess facilities in Hostel Numbers Twelve, Thirteen and Fourteen. They were not immediately shut down and inspectors found problems and deficiencies in operations and sanitary conditions. The caterer in charge of these facilities had received notice about what was required to be done to meet state food safety standards and these steps are part of an aggressive, nationwide food safety enforcement operation launched by a new FDA commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe.
In addition to cleaning up the food and hospitality sector in the state, the regulatory agency has cracked down on many commercial establishments and popular restaurants for serious violations. Licenses of many of them have been suspended (M/s Eat Nino Private Limited on Gokhale Road in Dadar, M/s Jai Maa Kali Dhaba on MHADA, Andheri West, M/s A J Hospitality, also known as House of Maharashtra on Linking Road in Santacruz West and M/s South India Dosa Corner in Kurla West). The suspensions were made due to a number of critical problems.
The crackdown extended well beyond central Mumbai to food businesses in nearby areas. Punjab Grill, a well-established restaurant in Navi Mumbai, also had its license suspended by the FDA after the inspections. Three other businesses serving commercial food were also advised to cease operations for failures to comply with regulations.
The agency has released statistics that show as many as sixty-three restaurants were thoroughly inspected between August fourth and August sixth. Thirty-eight restaurants received administrative notices for immediate improvements in hygiene and food handling. Seven other restaurants were suspended for severe violations of the state government’s zero-tolerance policy of food safety violations and public health hazards.
