The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Mumbai carried out unannounced inspections in December, targeting restaurants and hotels for compliance with food safety regulations. This drive resulted in improvement notices being issued to 61 establishments and the cancellation of one hotel’s licence due to severe breaches.
The inspection campaign, which started on December 5, covered 63 eateries, out of which 61 failed to adhere to food safety standards. Minor violations, such as staff not wearing mandatory aprons, gloves, or caps, and uncovered garbage bins, led to the issuance of improvement notices. However, one hotel faced harsher penalties, including a Rs 30,000 fine and licence revocation, for more serious infractions. Additionally, another hotel had expired beer worth Rs 21,600 confiscated during the inspections.
The FDA collected 78 food samples from these establishments, which are now undergoing laboratory analysis. Further actions will be determined based on the test results.
This inspection drive follows a similar campaign last year that exposed significant lapses in well-known hotels, including unhygienic kitchens and rodent infestations. Several outlets were also found operating without valid food licences, leading to temporary closures and substantial fines.
Joint FDA Commissioner Mangesh Mane explained that the city had been divided into 13 zones, with food safety officers assigned to monitor establishments in each area. "Our primary objective is to ensure that the food served to the people of Mumbai is clean, safe, and of good quality. Strict action will be taken against those failing to meet the standards," said Mane.
Our primary objective is to ensure that the food served to the people of Mumbai is clean, safe, and of good quality. Strict action will be taken against those failing to meet the standards.
Mangesh Mane, Joint FDA Commissioner
Mane also urged citizens to play an active role in ensuring food safety by reporting any concerns regarding hygiene or food quality through the toll-free helpline number 1800-222-365. He reiterated the FDA’s commitment to conducting similar inspection drives in the future to safeguard public health.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)
