Maharashtra FDA Suspends Licences Of 5 Mumbai Cricket Association Food Outlets Over Poor Refrigeration, Unclean Kitchens

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken action against several restaurants and food establishments across the state for allegedly violating food safety and hygiene norms, including five outlets operating at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) premises.

The FDA has suspended the food licences of 11 establishments following inspections that uncovered lapses related to food handling, storage, refrigeration, sanitation and hygiene. As part of the drive, officials inspected 45 hotels, restaurants, eateries and dhabas, issued improvement notices to 33 establishments and conducted 25 raids.

The action comes two days after the Maharashtra FDA suspended an MCD outlet near Mumbai’s Colaba area over alleged food safety violations.

Why did the Maharashtra FDA suspend the MCA outlets?

The five MCA outlets facing action are the Permit Room, Pavilion, Mediterranean, Oriental Swing, and Clubway & Pastry Counter. The FDA inspected the outlets on August 20 and found several lapses related to hygiene, food handling, storage, refrigeration and sanitation.

At the Permit Room, inspectors found ice accumulation in a kitchen refrigerator, an unclean and slippery floor near the kitchen entrance, inadequate temperature control and deteriorated raw materials. Officials also found deficiencies in food storage and handling.

The outlet lacked food-grade conformity certificates for food-contact packaging material and did not conduct regular checks of cooking oil.

At the Pavilion, inspectors found ice accumulation and unclean refrigerator components, along with poor segregation of food items in cold storage. The FDA also flagged inadequate refrigeration calibration, improper thawing of frozen food and shortcomings in cooling and storage practices.

At Mediterranean, officials found inadequate sanitisation of food equipment, improper cooling, poor portioning practices and inadequate thawing of frozen food. The inspection also revealed deficient temperature controls and shortcomings in the handling of raw materials and packaging.

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The Oriental Swing outlet was found to have an improperly calibrated refrigeration system and an unclean kitchen floor. Inspectors also found damaged plaster or paint on part of the kitchen ceiling, inadequate sanitisation, deficiencies in temperature control and lapses in oil-quality checks.

At the Clubway & Pastry Counter, the FDA found inadequate working space, improper storage of raw food and a lack of hand gloves for a food handler. Officials also flagged inadequate measures to prevent dust, dirt and insects from entering the food preparation area.

The investigation further found that the food business was being carried out under the name of an establishment that did not have a valid food licence. The registration certificate of the outlet was subsequently suspended, the release said.

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Which other food establishments faced action?

Besides the five MCA outlets, the statewide action included Lenexis Foodworks in Mahim, Cafe Cadell in Shivaji Park, China Town Fast Food Centre in Mulund, Morya Misal in Warje and Saoji Upahar Gruh in Nagpur.

The FDA suspended the registration of China Town Fast Food Centre with immediate effect after finding excessive use of artificial colour and MSG, repeated use of highly oxidised cooking oil, cockroach infestation and unhygienic food storage.

Officials also found a risk of cross-contamination between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, along with inadequate drainage at the establishment.

The FDA also suspended the licence of Morya Misal in Pune after finding artificial colouring in food, as well as the storage and use of expired food products.

During the latest inspection drive, the FDA inspected 45 hotels, restaurants, eateries and dhabas across Maharashtra. The regulator issued improvement notices to 33 establishments and conducted 25 raids as part of its enforcement action.

( With inputs from PTI )