Maharashtra FDA Suspends Food Licences of Two Mumbai Establishments

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licences of two establishments in Mumbai following inspections that allegedly uncovered serious violations of food-safety and hygiene standards. The authority has also initiated proceedings against two other establishments for similar lapses.

The licences of Eatclub Brands Private Limited, located at Royal Palms in Aarey Milk Colony, and Rani Diets Consultant and Service Providers in Jari Mari, Kurla West, were suspended with immediate effect from September 2 under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

According to the FDA, inspections at Eatclub Brands found inadequate storage arrangements for food, packaging materials, chemicals and employees’ belongings. Inspectors also reportedly identified insufficient hand-washing and hygiene facilities, inadequate ventilation and pest-control measures, and failures in inspecting and cleaning raw materials.

The establishment allegedly lacked appropriate protective equipment for food handlers and had questionable records relating to employees’ annual medical examinations. Officials also found shortcomings in its mechanism for handling consumer complaints.

At Rani Diets, inspectors allegedly detected rodent infestation, unhygienic food preparation and storage areas, stagnant water and improper waste disposal. Raw meat and other high-risk food items were reportedly stored uncovered inside refrigerators and freezers. Food labelling and dating practices were also found to be inadequate.

The FDA further cited deficiencies in temperature control, personal hygiene among food handlers, and records covering cooking, reheating and cooling processes. The establishment allegedly had no records of periodic internal or external food-safety audits, while several mandatory documents were incomplete or unavailable.

Meanwhile, the FDA has initiated proceedings to suspend the FSSAI licence of Goodluck Bakery and Stores in Chembur after allegedly finding widespread non-compliance involving storage, pest control, water testing, sanitation, temperature management, waste disposal, protective clothing and employee health records.

Similar suspension proceedings have been proposed against Ashfaque Bakery in Chembur. The FDA cited alleged deficiencies involving storage, pest control, water testing, food packaging, temperature control, personal hygiene, medical records, staff training and food-safety audits.

The latest action is part of the Maharashtra FDA’s ongoing enforcement drive against establishments allegedly failing to meet prescribed food-safety and hygiene requirements.