Mumbai’s iconic Bademiya eatery sealed over lack of licence, ‘unhygienic kitchen’

The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has reportedly sealed three outlets of Mumbai’s iconic eatery Bademiya after finding out that they lacked proper licence.

The Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence has reportedly not been renewed for many years. Cockroaches and rats were also allegedly found in the kitchen of one of its branches, said an India Today report.

An FDA official told India Today that the raid was part of FDA’s checks and inspections of restaurants across Mumbai. Bademiya was one of several eateries that were raided.

An FDA release said: “During the check, officials found the establishment does not have a valid food licence, which is required as per The Food Safety and Standards Act.”

FDA collects food samples

The FDA has collected 10 samples of prepared food and raw material used in the preparations, and these have been sent for quality tests, it added.

The 76-year-old eatery has three branches — two in south Mumbai and one in Bandra. Because of the unhygienic kitchen and lack of license, the FDA closed Bademiya on Wednesday (September 13) and gave the owner a stop-business notice.

An FDA official told India Today that it was necessary “in the interest of public health”.

The owner of the iconic Colaba eatery, however, told India Today that all their licenses had been renewed; only the FSSAI licence was underway. Regarding the alleged hygiene issue, the owner reportedly said they would be careful hereafter.

“Further action will be taken based on the finding in the laboratory examination. As the eatery was operational without a proper food licence and errors were found, the FDA has directed the establishment to shut operations till they get a valid food licence and rectify the errors,” the FDA release said.