FDA suspends licences of 10 Mumbai food establishments after raids find filth and insects

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a special drive across Maharashtra to stop the sale, storage and transport of banned food items. As part of the drive, the FDA raided ten establishments in Mumbai.

The raids brought to light lapses in the licences and registrations of these establishments. The FDA has since suspended the licences of all of them.

According to the FDA, filth and an insect infestation were found at these places. The workers also lacked medical certificates and training, and lapses were found in the storage of food items. These were the reasons for the suspension of the licences.

The establishments that faced action include Huma Caterer at Islam Gymkhana, Milkos Dairy Products in Kandivali, La Pino's Pizza in Santacruz and F3 Corporate Hospitality Services in Vile Parle.

The list also includes Narayan Dosa at Opera House, the Central Canteen on the J.J. Hospital premises, Paliwal Dairy in Charkop and Nawab Juice Centre on the Marine Lines premises. The remaining two establishments are Golden Star Restaurant in Girgaon and Abrar Kirana Stores on the J.J. Hospital premises.

The ten establishments that came under action in Mumbai are spread across different parts of the city, from catering and dairy units to a restaurant, a canteen, a juice centre and a grocery store.

The drive is not limited to Mumbai. It is being run across the state under the supervision of FDA officer Tukaram Mundhe. Under it, FDA teams took action between October 6 and 8 in the districts of Jalgaon, Dhule, Nashik, Nandurbar, the Konkan division, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur.

From these districts, the teams seized stocks of banned food items and three vehicles. The total value of the seized goods has been put at Rs 1.9 crore. Twelve cases have been registered and 13 people arrested in the action.