The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licences of the Bombay Presidency Radio Club and a McDonald’s outlet in south Mumbai, along with 12 other food establishments across Maharashtra, over alleged violations of food safety and hygiene norms. 
The action comes as the FDA has stepped up inspections since IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe took charge as commissioner in May and began a crackdown on establishments found violating food safety laws and regulations. In a recent special drive, the department inspected 89 hotels, restaurants and dhabas across the state. It issued improvement notices to 71 establishments and suspended the licences of 13 food businesses. 
During an inspection on August 19, the Bombay Presidency Radio Club recorded a non-compliance rate of 47%. The establishment was directed to stop the purchase, sale and distribution of food during the suspension period. 
FDA officials allegedly found a large number of live flies and dead cockroaches in the club’s kitchen. They also found peeling paint and plaster on the ceiling above food preparation areas, washing powder and other chemicals stored close to food items, food kept directly on the floor and unclean refrigerators used for non-vegetarian food. 
The inspection also found improper thawing of food and an inadequately sealed kitchen door that could allow pests and contaminants to enter. Garbage bins were placed near cooking stoves, while spitting marks were also found on the premises, the FDA said. 
Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd’s McDonald’s Family Restaurant kiosk at Metro House in Colaba also faced immediate suspension of its FSSAI licence. During a reinspection on August 19, officials found that 18 of the 20 deficiencies listed in an earlier improvement notice had not been rectified. 
The FDA allegedly found uncalibrated refrigeration equipment, live cockroaches, a lack of pest traps, rotting food waste on the kitchen floor, dirty cleaning cloths and dust-covered light fixtures without protective shields. Employees were also found handling ready-to-eat food without washing their hands after handling dirty footwear and soiled cleaning cloths. 
The outlet had submitted a 148-page compliance report on August 12, but the reinspection found that most of the serious deficiencies continued to remain. 
Officials also allegedly found the use of a processed non-dairy or analogue preparation called “GO Cheese SAUCE”, despite claims displayed to customers about the use of real cheese and paneer. 
In Malad, Ingenious Kitchens Pvt Ltd, which operates Novaara restaurant, also lost its food business licence after a reinspection found that 14 of 25 serious deficiencies mentioned in an earlier improvement notice remained unresolved. The deficiencies included old kitchen utensils and equipment that did not conform to food safety standards, absence of grease and cockroach traps in the drainage line and inadequate medical examination records for food handlers. 
Status Restaurant at Nariman Point faced immediate suspension following a customer complaint. The FDA found, among other violations, an employee washing his face directly over clean food utensils, causing wastewater to splash onto them. Officials also found employees without complete personal protective equipment, dirty crockery, stagnant water, grease and oil deposits, rust and food waste. 
The FDA suspended the registration certificate of Khar Gymkhana in Khar West after allegedly finding serious hygiene and food safety violations. The inspection found inadequate storage arrangements, poor cleanliness in the food preparation area, inadequate segregation of raw and prepared food, lack of hot water for washing utensils and improper thawing of frozen food. 
Other Mumbai establishments facing licence suspension included Bajrang Sweet Mart in Santacruz West and ASM Hotels and Hospitality Services Pvt Ltd in Andheri West. 
Outside Mumbai, the FDA suspended the licences of Du Brothers Shawarma in Nagpur, Avanti Snacks in Nashik and Pintu Yadav Sweets in Amravati. It also suspended the food business licences of Chhappan Bhog Thali Restaurant and Banquet Hall, MHARO Gayatri Mewad Pvt Ltd and Star Bakery in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Parbhani over sanitation and food safety violations. 
Source PTI