FDA finds ‘flies, cockroaches’ at Mumbai’s 98-year-old Radio Club, suspends licence

Peeling paint and plaster over the food preparation zone, washing powder stored beside food items, utensils placed directly on the floor, and staff helmets and clothing stored alongside food were also flagged.

At the Bombay Presidency Radio Club in Colaba, inspectors found large-scale infestation of live flies in the kitchen (Express photo)

Since the establishment’s non-compliance score was 47 per cent, the FDA suspended its licence with immediate effect.

The FDA suspended the FSSAI licence of McDonald’s (Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd) kiosk at Metro House, Colaba, after a re-inspection found that 18 of 20 deficiencies flagged in an earlier improvement notice were yet to be fixed, including uncalibrated refrigeration units, live cockroaches, and staff handling ready-to-eat food without washing their hands after touching soiled clothes and footwear – as against the outlet’s compliance report that said all deficiencies had been resolved.

The FDA alleged that the outlet was also using cheese-analogue products.

Action against Status Restaurant

The Status Restaurant at Nariman Point was inspected after a customer complaint, and its licence was suspended immediately after inspectors found a staff member washing his face over clean utensils.

There were no grease or cockroach traps, temperature logs were missing, and no segregation between raw, cooked, vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

For Khar Gymkhana, Khar West, its registration certificate was suspended over a lengthy list of lapses, including “no hot water for washing utensils, improper thawing of frozen food, no FIFO/FEFO stock rotation, and uncalibrated temperature equipment.”

Other Mumbai-based restaurants whose licences were suspended include Novaara in Malad, Bajrang Sweet Mart in Santacruz West and ASM Hotels and Hospitality Services in Andheri West over hygiene and storage violations.

In Nagpur, Du Brothers Shawarma had its licence suspended for hygiene violations. In Nashik, Avanti Snacks lost its licence over more than a dozen lapses, including no pest-proofing, an undisplayed FSSAI licence, and inadequate handwashing facilities.