FDA inspects BMC headquarters canteen, suspends its registration over food safety violations

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration FDA has suspended the food business registration of Kamal Caterers Private Limited which operates the canteen at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC headquarters after finding serious food safety and hygiene violations an official statement saidThe action has been taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 it said adding thatthe companys food registration certificate has been suspended with effect from July 22 2026FDA officials first inspected the canteen on June 8 2026 and identified several violations relating to cleanliness hygiene and food safety standardsAn Improvement Notice was issued on June 9 and it was received by the establishment on June 16 However officials said the company neither submitted a written explanation nor a compliance reportReinspection found no improvementsA followup inspection was carried out on July 22 during which food safety officers found that all 31 shortcomings listed in the Improvement Notice remained unaddressedAccording to the FDA the violations included Presence of flies in the kitchen Poor cleanliness in food preparation areas Inadequate maintenance of equipment and premises Deficiencies in temperature control systems Absence of mandatory sanitation records Medical fitness certificates not maintained in the prescribed format Staff lacking mandatory FoSTaC Food Safety Training and Certification certificates No records of internal food safety audits Failure to maintain essential food safety documentation Food business barred from operatingFollowing the suspension the caterer has been prohibited from purchasing preparing manufacturing selling or distributing food during the suspension period officials saidThe FDA has directed food safety officers to regularly monitor the establishment to ensure compliance with the orderWarning of strict legal actionThe FDA warned that if the establishment continues to operate during the suspension period it will be treated as operating without a valid registration or licenceOfficials said such a violation would attract strict legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006Maharashtra FDA seizes food items worth over Rs 24 crMeanwhile the FDA also carried out a largescale enforcement drive across the state seizing food products worth more than Rs 24 crore and taking action against businesses found to have violated food safety standardsDuring the operation FDA officers seized more than 107 kilograms of milk and dairy products including milk cream found to contain foreign matter and suspected adulterated cow gheeThe department also registered six FIRs in cases involving prohibited products such as gutka and pan masala Eight people were arrested and banned products worth more than Rs 99 lakh were seizedIn addition officials confiscated food products worth over Rs 23 crore including suspected substandard health supplements and food intended for special dietary useFood businesses face actionThe FDA inspected 68 food establishments across Maharashtra during the drive including hotels restaurants and roadside eateriesFollowing the inspections 14 improvement notices were issued while the licences of 12 food businesses were suspended for failing to comply with food safety regulationsThe department said enforcement action was taken against establishments where serious hygiene and food safety violations were foundAIpowered complaint portal launchedThe FDA also announced the launch of a new Artificial Intelligence AIpowered Food and Drug Grievance Portal to make it easier for citizens to report food safety concernsThe online platform allows members of the public to lodge complaints about food adulteration unsafe food counterfeit medicines and substandard drugsThe portal also includes a voice command feature allowing users to submit complaints by speaking instead of typingThe FDA has encouraged citizens to report suspected food safety violations through the new grievance portal as well as existing FSSAI complaint channels and the tollfree helplineOfficials said greater public participation would strengthen the states Safe Food Safe Maharashtra campaign and help improve food safety standards across Maharashtra