FDA suspends food licence of Gondia's Shalimar eatery over unhygienic conditions

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken action against Shalimar Hotel, near Kudwa Naka on Ring Road in Gondia. The FDA has suspended the hotel's food business licence from October 13 until further orders. It is alleged that the hotel was ignoring cleanliness rules and that filth persisted despite repeated warnings.

An FDA team had carried out a surprise inspection of the hotel on September 3 under the FoSCoS system. The hotel operator was given an "improvement notice" to rectify the lapses found at the time. According to the FDA, the hotel management did not take the notice seriously and did not submit any compliance report.

Officials then returned to inspect the hotel on October 12. They found conditions the same as before, in fact worse. The inspection found rotting food waste accumulated in open drains inside the hotel. The plaster and paint on the kitchen walls had peeled off.

The ventilation and exhaust system was found completely choked with grime. The floor was slippery and there was no arrangement for staff to wash their hands. The personal hygiene of the staff who cook and serve food was found to be nil.

In view of these lapses, Amrita Shirke, Assistant Commissioner and Designated Officer of the FDA in Gondia, issued an order under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, suspending the hotel's licence with immediate effect.

The order clearly states that no food business of any kind will be run at the hotel during the suspension. The administration has issued a stern warning to all hotel operators in the district that playing with people's health will not be tolerated under any circumstances. It has also appealed to citizens to complain to the FDA immediately if they find stale or unhygienic food anywhere.