Mumbai, Jul 23 (PTI) Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the food business licence of the canteen at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters in south Mumbai after its operator failed to rectify 39 deficiencies despite being issued an improvement notice last month, officials said on Thursday.
In a statement, the FDA said it had inspected the BMC headquarters canteen on June 18 and issued an improvement notice the next day.
Although canteen operator Kamal Caterers Private Limited received the notice on June 24, it neither submitted a written explanation nor a compliance report, it said.
“A fresh inspection on July 22 found that all 39 deficiencies pointed out earlier remained unrectified, prompting suspension of the food business licence with effect from July 22,” it said.
The FDA said the canteen continued to suffer from serious lapses, including cockroach infestation in the kitchen, unhygienic food handling areas, poor maintenance of equipment and premises, defective temperature control systems, absence of mandatory cleaning records, improperly labelled food containers, lack of FoSTaC (food safety training and certification) training certificates for employees, failure to maintain food safety records and non-generation of mandatory reports.
The canteen will not be allowed to manufacture, sell or distribute food during the suspension period, it said.
“Any violation would attract stringent action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Food safety officers have also been directed to keep the establishment under regular surveillance,” the FDA added.
The regulator also suspended the licence of ‘Mitra Da Dhaba’ in Bhandup in the metropolis after inspectors found rats and insects in the food processing area and observed serious shortcomings in cleanliness, waste management and drainage arrangements.
The statewide drive covered 68 hotels, restaurants and eateries, resulting in 14 improvement notices and suspension of licences of 12 establishments, the FDA said. PTI ND BNM
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