FDA suspends licences of three iconic Mumbai eateries after finding serious food safety violations

Three well-known eateries in Mumbai have had their food business licences suspended after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found multiple violations of food safety and hygiene norms during inspections.

The action was taken against Shalimar Hospitality Pvt Ltd, Noor Mohammadi Hotel in Bhendi Bazaar, and Rehmania Restaurant in Umerkhadi following six inspections conducted as part of the FDA's enforcement drive, as per a report in ANI.

This comes barely a week after the Maharashtra FDA cancelled the license of Mumbai's iconic ice cream spot K Rustom & Co, which even featured on Taste Atlas' list Top 100 ice creams in the world, for allegedly violating hygiene and food safety norms, including storing expired artificial flavouring agents.

More from Lifestyle

According to the FDA, the establishments failed to comply with food safety regulations despite being given opportunities to rectify the shortcomings.

Shalimar Hospitality failed to fix 25 deficiencies

The FDA suspended Shalimar Hospitality's licence on July 14 after a re-inspection conducted on July 13 found that 25 major deficiencies identified during an earlier inspection in April had still not been addressed.

Officials found wet and slippery kitchen floors, the absence of records related to raw material procurement, no documentation of drinking water quality testing, missing records on cooking oil quality, improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and open windows without insect-proof screens, increasing the risk of pest contamination.

Noor Mohammadi Hotel cited for unhygienic kitchen conditions

Noor Mohammadi Hotel's licence was also suspended on July 14 after inspectors found serious hygiene violations during a July 13 inspection.

The FDA reported thick layers of burnt grease and oil residue on kitchen floors, open windows near the food preparation area allowing flies, insects and birds inside, peeling paint and heavy grease deposits on walls and ceilings, unhygienic storage of raw materials, lack of supplier records, use of old and unclean utensils, absence of drinking water quality testing records, and inadequate drainage arrangements required for pest control.

Rehmania Restaurant also suspended

Rehmania Restaurant in Umerkhadi received an immediate suspension order on July 13 after inspectors found inadequate storage arrangements for food, chemicals and packaging materials, doors without insect-proof protection, rusted and substandard equipment, peeling paint and damaged plaster on walls and ceilings, missing mandatory food testing records, and failure to conduct drinking water quality tests.

FDA says action will continue

The Maharashtra FDA said it will continue taking stringent action against food business operators that compromise consumer health or violate food safety regulations.

The inspections are part of the department's ongoing efforts to ensure restaurants and food establishments maintain prescribed hygiene and safety standards, particularly in areas handling large volumes of customers.