FDA fines Mumbai Police canteen operator Rs 75,000 over filth at Nagpada outlet

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken action against the canteen of the Mumbai Police Motor Transport Department at Nagpada. After finding filth in the canteen, the FDA fined its operator Rs 75,000. FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe has for the past few months been taking continuous action against adulterators, and this case is the latest in that series.

Mumbai Police personnel had for the past year been complaining to their senior officers about the quality of food and the filth at this Nagpada canteen. When the seniors did not take notice, the personnel approached Mundhe's FDA directly. The FDA then disposed of the complaint in just one week and took action against the canteen. There is now talk in the police force that Mundhe did in a week what senior officers could not do in a whole year.

On Friday, Mundhe had held a press conference in Mumbai. He had said clearly that action against adulterators would continue during Diwali as well. According to him, Diwali is approaching and we have our own food culture, so it is essential to use the right oil while cooking. His campaign against adulterated oil is under way and will continue.

Mundhe said 1,089 inspections of edible oil have been carried out so far. Of these, 80 licences have been cancelled and 28,753 quintals of goods have been seized. He told food businesses that exercising caution is their job and is not only the seller's responsibility. He warned that, whether a company is small or big, it must ensure that not a single packet of expired food reaches the market.

Mundhe said action alone is not his aim and that he is simply doing his job. In his view, the biggest achievement is that compliance orders have been issued. Orders have been issued on the rules that should apply to hotels, milk and dairy products, oil, school food and other items. So far 22 rules have come in. These orders also spell out the responsibilities of food businesses, licence holders and officials.

The order issued on the day of the press conference concerned expired, returned and damaged food. According to Mundhe, no other state has such an order. Expired or spoiled food is often put back into use. The company will therefore now have to provide proof that such food has been completely destroyed.