Maharashtra FDA raids: Mumbai's Barista, Sandy Da Dhaba among 21 eateries facing licence suspension over hygiene violations

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration FDA has cracked down on eateries and food establishments across the state with five Mumbai establishments including Barista Coffee Company and Sandy Da Dhaba facing licence or registration suspension over alleged food safety and hygiene violationsThe Maharashtra FDA raids also cover eateries bakeries restaurants caterers and food businesses in Pune Raigad and other districts where inspections flagged pest infestations poor sanitation improper food storage expired food products and violations of licensing normsIn all licences of 21 food establishments in the Mumbai Pune and Konkan divisions have been suspended while food and drinking water worth lakhs of rupees were seized during the Maharashtra FDA raidsApart from the Barista Coffee Company Limited in Shivaji Park and Sandy Da Dhaba in Madh the FDA also took action against Rajidi Retail in Bhandup Village Food Hub Cloud Kitchen in Malad and Milkows Dairy Products in Kandivali in MumbaiBarista failed to properly segregate veg and nonveg foodAt Barista Coffee Company Limited in Shivaji Park FDA officials found rusted damaged and unclean refrigerators and freezers inadequate temperature control and uncovered food itemsThe establishment had also failed to properly segregate vegetarian and nonvegetarian food The FDA said food and water test reports packaging quality certificates equipment calibration records employee medical certificates and training records were unavailableRats flies found at Sandy Da DhabaAt Sandy Da Dhaba officials reported severe uncleanliness with rats and flies found on the premises The FDA also flagged unhygienic storage of chicken and improper segregation of vegetarian and nonvegetarian foodEmployee medical and hygiene records were also found to be unavailable according to the FDAPest infestation flagged at Bhandup retailerAt Rajidi Retail in Bhandup Village FDA officials found extremely dirty deep freezers dead flies pest infestation broken floor tiles and rusted racks and palletsTemperature records for cold and freezer rooms were not maintained while employee medical reports and internal audit records were unavailableExpired spices found at Malad cloud kitchenFood Hub a cloud kitchen in Malad was found to be overcrowded and unclean The FDA said some food products did not carry manufacturing or expiry dates while expired spices were also foundOfficials further flagged open sewage drains accumulated water near the entrance and inadequate pestcontrol measures Employees had also not undergone medical examinationsMilkows Dairy Products flagged over licence categoryAt Milkows Dairy Products in Kandivali the FDA found that the establishment was operating under an incorrect licence category and required a manufacturing licenceOfficials also flagged dirty walls and ceilings inadequate lighting and ventilation poor pest control and a lack of cleaning sanitisation calibration and maintenance recordsFDA seizes 8020 litres of packaged water in DhuleAs part of the wider Maharashtra crackdown FDA officials seized 8020 litres of packaged drinking water worth Rs 163 lakh from Shivay Beverages LLP in Dhules MIDC Nardana area The stock was suspected to be adulterated or substandardIn the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Division food products worth around Rs 303 lakh were seized during inspections across Jalna Dharashiv Hingoli and Nanded The seized products included malai pedha rice ghee pumpkin seeds and 888 kg of toor dalIn Raigad the FDA seized 65 litres of misbranded loose milk from Shiv Kailas Dairy in Taloja The stock comprised 40 litres of raw cow milk and 25 litres of raw buffalo milk with samples collected for further legal action15 Pune establishments also face actionPune accounted for 15 of the 21 food establishments whose licences or registrations were suspended or faced regulatory actionFDA officials flagged cockroach infestations poor sanitation improper food storage expired or damaged food products and lack of valid food licences at several establishments Chinese Story in Hinjewadi New Rajdhani Bakery in Loni Kalbhor Oye Kiddan Restaurant in Hinjewadi and Aai Mata Farsan and Wefers in Ambegaon Budruk were among the establishments where hygienerelated violations were reportedDuring the Maharashtra FDA raids the administration also found some businesses operating without valid food licences or registrations while Killa Hotel in Wagholi was allegedly preparing and serving food despite being registered only as a retailerCitizens can report food safety violationsThe FDA has urged citizens to report complaints related to food quality and malpractice Complaints can be registered through the tollfree number 1800222365 or the Food amp Drug Administrations Food amp Drug Grievance Portal