Mumbai: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of popular Colaba restaurant Cafe Mondegar and three other food establishments after inspections found serious food safety and hygiene violations.
The action comes as the state food regulator intensifies inspections ahead of the festival season, with officials also seizing thousands of kilograms of suspected substandard and adulterated food products across Maharashtra.
Cafe Mondegar found with serious hygiene violations
The FDA inspected Cafe Mondegar at Metro House in Colaba on September 12 and reported several deficiencies.
Officials found that hot food was not being maintained above the prescribed 60 degrees Celsius, while cold storage was not being kept below 5 degrees Celsius. The inspection also reportedly detected improper thawing of food, inadequate rapid cooling of cooked items and sanitation and structural deficiencies that could increase the risk of cross-contamination.
The licences of Maharashtra Biryani Centre in Kandivali East, Tribhuvan Dairy Farm in Ghatkopar West and Mahavir Cashew & Foods Pvt Ltd in Ghatkopar East were also suspended after violations of mandatory hygiene requirements under Schedule 4 of food safety regulations.
FDA seizes over 4,000 kg of food products
As part of its festival-season campaign between September 11 and 14, the FDA inspected 38 food establishments in Mumbai and collected 47 samples, including milk, khoya, ghee and sweets.
Across Maharashtra, the regulator said its action resulted in the seizure of 4,138.7 kg of milk products and sweets, along with 30 litres of liquid milk. The total value of the seized stock was put at Rs 15.58 lakh.
Officials also seized suspected adulterated sweet halwa, khoya, paneer, ghee, peda, shrikhand and other products in several districts.
Crackdown extends to banned products
The FDA also stepped up action against prohibited food products, including gutkha.
In Jalna district, officials and police seized banned products worth Rs 95.30 lakh and vehicles valued at around Rs 40 lakh. Separate action was reported in Beed and Mumbai, where cases were registered and arrests made.
The regulator said further legal action would follow in cases where laboratory analysis or investigations establish violations.