FDA suspends licence of Pasteur ice cream parlour on MG Road over rodents, unsafe storage

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has withdrawn, with immediate effect, the food licence of the Pasteur ice cream parlour on MG Road in Pune Camp. Officials cited poor cleanliness, evidence of rodents and unsafe storage of food at the outlet.

The order was issued on November 10 under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. It forms part of the department's "Safe Food Safe Maharashtra" campaign.

Food Safety Officer Satish Hake inspected the premises and recorded a number of violations. On the basis of his findings, N R Sarkate, the designated officer for Circle 6 and the licensing authority, directed that the licence stay suspended until further orders.

The FDA said droppings of rodents lay beneath the racks and freezers in the kitchen. The inspectors also noted cobwebs, dust and peeling paint on the walls, which in their view showed that cleaning was neglected and no real pest control was in place.

Fruit and other edible items were being kept next to sanitisers and disinfectants, a practice that could let chemicals reach the food. Products stored in the freezer had no best-before date or any other date marked on them.

The parlour is also accused of working beyond what its licence permits. It had only a retailer's licence, yet samosas, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, pav bhaji and falooda were being cooked and sold on the premises.

Further lapses were listed. The owners could not produce water and food test reports, and staff FoSTaC training certificates were not shown to the inspectors. The compulsory notice telling customers that drinking water is available free of charge was not displayed.

For the period of the suspension, the establishment has been forbidden from doing any food-related business. Shrikant Karkale, Joint Commissioner of the FDA's Pune division, cautioned that strict legal action will follow if the order is flouted.