Mumbai: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted surprise inspections of hotels and restaurants in December, issuing improvement notices to 61 establishments and cancelling the licence of one for failing to comply with regulations.
As part of the campaign, which began on December 5, officials inspected 63 hotels and restaurants. Of these, 61 establishments failed to meet the parameters of food safety and standards regulations.
Minor violations, such as staff not wearing aprons, gloves, or caps, or the absence of lids on rubbish bins, led to improvement notices being issued. However, one hotel was found to have significant violations, resulting in a fine of Rs30,000 and the cancellation of its licence. Additionally, expired beer stock was seized from another hotel.
During the inspections, a total of 78 food samples were collected, and further action will be taken based on their analysis.
Last year, the FDA conducted similar surprise inspections, uncovering several violations. Some well-known hotels were found to have unsanitary kitchens, with rodent infestations in certain cases. Additionally, some establishments were found operating without FDA food licences. This led to temporary closures of several outlets and hefty fines for others.
FDA joint commissioner Mangesh Mane stated that Mumbai was divided into 13 zones, with food officers assigned to inspect key establishments in each area.
“The primary goal of this inspection was to ensure that Mumbaikars are served quality food in clean and safe conditions. It’s a matter of public health. Any unit found violating regulations will face strict action,” Mane said.
Mane, urged citizens to report any concerns about food quality by calling the toll-free number 1800-222-365. “Ensuring safe and quality food for the public is our priority, and similar campaigns will be implemented in the future,” said Mane.
