Urinal in food storage, flies, roaches: Maharashtra FDA suspends licence of iconic Mumbai cafe
The action was taken on Wednesday after the FDA received a consumer complaint under its “Safe Food Safe Maharashtra” campaign.
PTC News Desk: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licence of Olympia Coffee House in Mumbai’s Colaba with immediate effect after an inspection found several serious food safety and hygiene violations.
The action was taken on Wednesday after the FDA received a consumer complaint under its “Safe Food Safe Maharashtra” campaign. During the inspection, officials found problems related to food storage, preparation, handling and overall cleanliness.
Among the major violations, offacials found a urinal inside the food storage area. Food was also being handled directly on the floor, while the food preparation and utensil-washing areas were found to be unhygienic.
Cockroaches, flies found at restaurant
According to the FDA, meat blood residue was found inside a refrigerator. Raw vegetarian and non-vegetarian food was also not properly separated.
Officials found cockroaches and flies at the premises and noted that damaged wooden chopping boards were being used for food preparation.
The FDA also raised concerns about the quality of water being used at the restaurant, with unclean water found on the premises. Food handlers were not wearing proper protective clothing during the inspection.
The violations also included failures to meet mandatory food safety requirements. Of the 35 food handlers working at the restaurant, 34 had not completed the required food safety training.
Officials also found that mandatory water testing reports and important sanitation records were not available.
The FDA said the combination of poor hygiene and missing compliance records led to the immediate suspension of the restaurant’s food licence.
Restaurant ordered to pause food operations
The FDA suspended the licence under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with the applicable food licensing regulations.
During the suspension period, Olympia Coffee House has been directed to stop all activities involving the purchase, preparation, storage, sale and distribution of food.
The restaurant can seek permission to resume operations only after correcting all the deficiencies found during the inspection and passing a satisfactory re-inspection, the FDA said.
Nair Hospital canteen also faces action
The action against Olympia Coffee House was part of food safety inspections carried out by the Maharashtra FDA on September 16.
On the same day, officials inspected the canteen at Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central and found serious food safety and hygiene violations.
The canteen’s food licence was also suspended with immediate effect due to concerns over the health and safety of patients and the public. Further legal action against the canteen is underway, according to the FDA.