MUMBAI NEWS: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has intensified its crackdown on food establishments across Mumbai, suspending the licences of several businesses following inspections that uncovered
serious hygiene and food-safety violations.
The latest action was taken against the upscale Otters Club on Carter Road in Bandra, where inspectors found multiple lapses, including broken floor tiles, blocked drains and a malfunctioning refrigerator with volatile temperature fluctuations, as reported by The Times of India.
The inspection also found unclean flooring in certain areas, while the club failed to produce records of Total Polar Compounds (TPC) testing in edible oil, a key food-safety requirement.
Inspectors further found that the club’s restaurant was serving analogue paneer to customers under the name ‘regular paneer’. The product was supplied by Punjab Sind Dairy.
Zepto Warehouse Fails Temperature And Hygiene Checks
The FDA also suspended the licence of another Zepto facility, its Chembur dark store located on the Eastern Express Highway, after inspectors found serious temperature-control and hygiene failures. According to the TOI report, meat products were being stored at 9°C, instead of the mandated 5°C or below. Frozen products, meanwhile, were being kept at -11°C, well above the required storage temperature of -18°C or lower.
The inspection also revealed greasy and slippery floors, black dust accumulated on exhaust fans and inadequate ventilation. The facility lacked proper cleaning schedules, creating conditions conducive to cockroach and pest infestations.
Daily Fresh Bakers And Cakes Found Preparing Food On Unclean Floors
Four other food businesses in Mumbai also had their licences suspended following inspections.
At Daily Fresh Bakers and Cakes in Dahisar, FDA officials found cakes being prepared directly on unclean kitchen floors. The premises also had active infestations of cockroaches and ants.
Prince Of Wales Restaurant Cited For Multiple Lapses
Prince of Wales Restaurant in Khar faced suspension over inadequate temperature controls, a lack of effective pest-control measures and insufficient cleaning of food-processing equipment.
Rat-Bitten Oil Packets Found At Vile Parle Trader
At Raj Oil Trading in Vile Parle, inspectors found rat-bite marks on oil packets. The premises also had foul odours attributed to poorly maintained storage conditions.
Cafe Sifarish Shut Down Over Hygiene Violations
Cafe Sifarish in Andheri East was also shut down following hygiene-related lapses detected during the FDA’s inspections.
The latest action comes as the FDA continues its crackdown on establishments that fail to comply with prescribed food-safety and hygiene standards across Mumbai.
