Maharashtra FDA suspends 199 eatery licences over hygiene violations
Cockroach infestations, uncovered meat, filthy utensils, and cold-chain breaches found during inspections across the state; Pune recorded highest number of suspensions
Mumbai, Sep 11 (PTI) Cockroach-infested kitchens, uncovered raw meat and filthy utensils prompted the Maharashtra FDA to suspend 199 eatery licenses after inspecting more than 1,800 hotels, clubs, and dhabas across the state over the last three months, officials said on Friday.
Pune division emerged as the worst offender with the highest number of licence suspensions, while inspectors served 948 improvement notices for critical cold-chain and sanitation breaches, they said.
According to the FDA, Pune topped the overall enforcement chart with 4,261 inspections and 168 licence suspensions, followed by Konkan with 3,142 inspections and 108 suspensions, and Greater Mumbai with 1,451 inspections and 121 suspensions.
Among other divisions, Nashik recorded 1,356 inspections and 56 suspensions, followed by Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar with 1,173 inspections and 61 suspensions, Amravati with 989 inspections and 45 suspensions, and Nagpur with 711 inspections and 44 suspensions.
The region-wise figures cover the period from May 25 to August 31. The FDA intensified its crackdown against restaurants, dairies and food manufacturing units after IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe took charge of the agency earlier this year.
The FDA stated that inspections of hotels and restaurants uncovered serious breaches of Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, including lack of clean water and drainage facilities, cold-chain violations, improper refrigerator temperatures, cockroach infestation and unhygienic food-handling practices.
Other violations included poor structural conditions, raw chicken stored in open containers, cut vegetables left unsealed, absence of water testing records and unclean floors, utensils and food-contact surfaces.
The department also found establishments lacking medical and vaccination records, FoSTaC training certificates, laboratory testing records and proof of purchase from licensed vendors, the agency said in a release. PTI