Dirty kitchens, stale food, expired items and ants and cockroaches common issues at eateries: FDA Jt Commissioner
Call us on the helpline number if you encounter any food safety violations: FDA
4 min read
The Indian Express interviewed Sailesh Adhav, Joint Commissioner of FDA, who has spearheaded the initiative to reinstate hygiene in food establishments. (Representational/ Express Archive)Eating right also involves maintaining hygiene, an aspect often overlooked in the bustling restaurants of Mumbai, India’s financial capital. Unfortunately, many food safety violations go unreported as citizens are unaware about where to complain. Consuming unhygienic food can result in foodborne illnesses with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain. In severe cases, it can lead to long-term health complications.
Consequently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken the matter into its hands and has rigorously begun inspecting restaurants, revealing various unreported violations. The Indian Express interviewed Sailesh Adhav, Joint Commissioner of FDA, who has spearheaded the initiative to reinstate hygiene in food establishments.
–Since August, FDA has been conducting raids on restaurants to identify loopholes in food safety compliance. What prompted the FDA to take such stringent action?
–It is a routine procedure for FDA to conduct random inspections at Mumbai eateries. We receive about 30 calls a month reporting violations, prompting immediate inspections. However, we have intensified inspections since August, following a complaint by a customer in Bandra who discovered a rat in his food, a shocking incident with high health risks. In response, we promptly closed the restaurant and decided to enforce compliance among eateries to prevent such occurrences.
–What specific types of violations have come to light as a result of your thorough inspections conducted at various restaurants?
–Since August, we have conducted raids on 239 restaurants, most of which exhibited various violations of food safety norms. Among these, we have shut down 22 establishments with severe violations. Nearly 170 restaurants have been served notices for improvement.
The inspection highlights concerns about the thousands of Mumbai eateries serving both locals and foreigners while disregarding basic food safety standards. Violations include the presence of cockroaches, rats, maggots, and stale vegetables at three outlets in Bademiya. At The Burn-Bar & Kitchen at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) we found that the restaurant had no proper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, resulting in possible cross-contamination.
Additionally, in other eateries, we found kitchens dirty with stale foods in coolers, many with expired items, and open spaces attracting ants and cockroaches. Our screening process evaluates eateries on approximately 80 to 90 critical parameters. At some places, the staffers didn’t have medical fitness certificates which can also cause health concerns for the customers.
–Many restaurants escape scrutiny as customers refrain from filing complaints. Will FDA take initiatives to encourage citizens to be more vigilant and report such instances?
–We have put up posters about rules and regulations of safety norms under FDA to sensitise customers. But we plan to make it more visible and put them up in public places with more crowds. Also, they can inform FDA about any violation on our helpline number 022-26592362/63/64 between 9 am to 5 pm. Also, they can email complaints at whogmp.mahafda@gmail.com. We request the public to approach us if they find any kind of food safety violations.
–What next to ensure that eateries follow safety guidelines?
–As news about FDA raids spread, hotels have become more careful. Also, along with AHAR (an association of Indian restaurants), we are training hotel staffers to avoid such instances in future. Also, we will continue with inspections.
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