FDA conducts surprise inspections of hotels and restaurants

In December, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carried out surprise inspections across hotels and restaurants, resulting in 61 establishments receiving improvement notices and one hotel’s licence being revoked due to non-compliance with regulations. This initiative, which began on December 5, involved inspections of 63 establishments, with 61 failing to meet food safety standards.

The violations included minor issues like staff not wearing aprons, gloves, or caps, and rubbish bins lacking lids. However, a hotel with significant violations faced a fine of Rs 30,000 and had its licence cancelled. Additionally, expired beer stock was seized from another establishment. During the inspections, a total of 78 food samples were collected for further analysis, with additional actions to follow based on the results.

Last year, similar surprise inspections revealed unsanitary kitchen conditions and rodent infestations in well-known hotels. Some establishments were also found operating without valid FDA food licences, leading to temporary closures and fines.

Mangesh Mane, FDA joint commissioner, mentioned that Mumbai had been divided into 13 zones, with food officers assigned to key establishments in each area. The primary aim of the inspections was to ensure that Mumbai residents are served food in safe and hygienic conditions. He emphasized that any establishment found violating regulations would face strict action.

Mane also encouraged citizens to report concerns about food quality by calling the toll-free number 1800-222-365, ensuring that food safety remains a top priority.

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