Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 23: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered the immediate closure and sealing of the canteen operating inside the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters after a customer allegedly found a fly in a glass of buttermilk.

The action was taken as part of the FDA's ongoing statewide drive against food safety violations and hygiene lapses in public and private food establishments.

Following the complaint, FDA officials conducted a nearly five-hour inspection of the canteen, during which they reportedly found serious shortcomings in cleanliness and violations of food safety norms. Based on the findings, the agency issued a Stop Business Notice to the canteen operator, Kamal Caterers, directing it to suspend operations with immediate effect.

The BMC's Health and Labour Department also initiated action against the contractor, imposing a penalty of Rs 50,000 for the alleged lapses.

The crackdown is being carried out across Maharashtra under the supervision of FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, with inspections targeting food establishments to ensure compliance with hygiene and safety standards.

The latest action follows similar measures taken recently against the canteen at Mumbai's KEM Hospital and several other eateries across the state for alleged food safety violations.

In another recent case, the FDA issued a notice to a spice and dry fruits shop owned by the family of Siya Goyal, an accused in the Ketan Agrawal murder case, directing the establishment to immediately stop business over alleged regulatory violations.

During a statewide inspection drive conducted between July 16 and 21, the FDA inspected 103 hotels, restaurants, dhabas and other food outlets, seized 1,731 litres of milk and 896 kg of milk products worth Rs 1.44 lakh, and suspended the licences of 16 food establishments for allegedly violating food safety norms.