BMC to inspect sweet shops, storage facilities to keep a tab on food contamination

Officials of the Food and Drugs Administration last week sealed Mumbai’s iconic Bademiya eateries in Colaba after maggots, rats and cockroaches were spotted in the kitchens. Two more restaurants were fined for violating safety and hygiene standards.

Dr Sudhakar Shinde, additional municipal commissioner of health of BMC, said that the corporation has directed all medical health officers and sanitation inspectors, urging them to conduct meticulous inspections at all sweets shops.

“In the past, customers had developed health complications by consuming adulterated sweets. During the season, many even require hospitalisation due to gastro issues. So, we have also kept the hospital on alert,” Dr Shinde said.

Additionally, he drew focus to the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration) First Amendment Regulations of 2017.

These rules prohibit the overuse of edible oil in the culinary process, citing concerns about the detrimental impact of recurrent oil usage on the physical, chemical, nutritional, and sensory characteristics of food. This problem leads to the development of total polar compounds (TPCs) during frying, often colloquially known as “frying fats.” These rigorous regulations have been implemented with the aim of mitigating these health risks.

Executive health officer Dr Daksha Shah has said the authorities have initiated a campaign to distribute informative leaflets and create public awareness regarding the dangers of sweets contamination.

Dr Shah advised customers that if sweets exhibit changes in colour, emit a strong odour, or develop mold, they should unequivocally be avoided. She encouraged individuals coming across the sale of such substances to promptly report the matter to the divisional medical health officer.