FDA Halts Food Permits of Cricket Club of India, MIG in Mumbai
The food business licenses of the Cricket Club of India (CCI), MIG Cricket Club in Bandra East, and three other clubs in the city have been suspended by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to purported breaches of food safety and hygiene regulations.
The FDA, led by its newly appointed commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, has taken measures against various well-known restaurants and food businesses in the city and other areas of the state in the past two months.
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Under its newly appointed commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the FDA has taken measures against numerous well-known restaurants and food establishments in the city and other areas of the state in the past two months.
At the CCI, water dripped onto food in cold storage, drains were blocked, cutting boards were unsanitary, rotten vegetables, overly ripe mushrooms, and expired items were kept, and FIFO/FEFO ('First In, First Out' and 'First Expired, First Out'). It stated that proper food labeling and practices were not adhered to.
Utensils were set directly on the ground, and grease, sludge, and standing water were reported to have gathered around food prep zones, the statement additionally asserted.
It also mentioned the lack of color-coded chopping boards, which elevates the risk of cross-contamination. The authority stated that these infractions justified the prompt suspension of the club's food license in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act and relevant regulations.
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The FDA stated that the food licence of MIG Cricket Club was suspended because an unauthorized catering agency without a valid FSSAI license was functioning from the location. The examination at MIG Cricket Club also revealed active cockroaches and spider webs in the kitchen, it stated.
Additional violations comprised inadequate handling and storage of raw, cooked, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian foods, neglecting to perform regular food and water testing, implementing unauthorized structural and management alterations without notifying the licensing authority, and lacking qualified technical staff and essential health records for food handlers, according to the FDA.
Licenses for food service at RK Juhu Gymkhana, The Aparna Juhu Gymkhana, and The Willingdon Sports Club were suspended due to multiple violations.
Furthermore, the FDA has halted the FSSAI permits of five major clubs in Mumbai following inspections that uncovered significant breaches of food safety and hygiene standards. Another venue, Goregaon Sports Club in Malad West, has been ordered to stop food business activities after being discovered operating without a valid license or registration.
The initiative occurred after an inspection tour carried out at seven food venues, such as clubs, canteens, and restaurants, in Greater Mumbai on July 27. The FDA announced that five establishments had their licenses suspended, one was instructed to cease operations, and an improvement notice was given to one.
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The venues undergoing license suspension include The Cricket Club of India Ltd, RK Juhu Gymkhana, The Aparna Juhu Gymkhana, MIG Cricket Club in Bandra East, and The Willingdon Sports Club.
The FDA reported that multiple establishments were detected breaching the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and associated regulations, with significant deficiencies in sanitation, pest management, food storage, and hygiene practices. At The Cricket Club of India Ltd, inspectors identified a live infestation of cockroaches and flies in areas where food is handled, inadequate waste disposal methods, dripping water onto food in cold storage, blocked drains, and the storage of spoiled vegetables and expired food products.
Authorities highlighted the lack of suitable food labeling, non-compliance with FIFO/FEFO methods, insufficient separation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food prep spaces, and the potential for cross-contamination.