Maharashtra FDA seizes 1,300 kg chemically ripened bananas, 8 eateries face action

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has intensified its action against food safety violations, suspending the licences of eight eateries, seizing 1300 kilograms of chemically ripened bananas and confiscating banned gutkha and adulterated milk, an official said on Tuesday.

In Mumbai, the agency acted against 11 establishments for lapses related to food safety, hygiene, storage and documentation. It suspended the licences of eight eateries and the registration certificates of three others, while separate operations led to seizures of prohibited food products and the registration of criminal cases.

Officials said a case was registered at the APMC police station in Navi Mumbai after a worker at a fruit stall was caught dipping bananas into a solution of ethephon, a plant growth regulator that leaves hazardous chemical residues. The action led to the seizure of 1,394 kg of bananas valued at Rs 67,814.

Among the 11 eateries that faced action in the Mumbai division, five were in the western suburbs and six in south Mumbai, the agency said in a statement. At Nom Nom Restaurant in Borivali, inspectors found stored and frozen food kept at improper temperatures, missing purchase bills and audit records, flies and insects, and inadequate health records of food handlers.

At Satkar Caterers, which runs the staff canteen of RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital in Vile Parle, inspectors found flies and cockroaches as well as inadequate separation of raw and cooked food.

At Suraj Lama Momos in Andheri, food and cleaning chemicals were found stored together, while cleaning facilities were inadequate and worker health and training records were missing.

Action was also taken against Tardeo Lunch Home and Shagun Veg Restaurant in Mumbai Central after complaints about kitchen hygiene. Inspectors found improper refrigeration, uncovered food, flies, and inadequate cleaning and documentation. At Roshan Bakery in Mazgaon, the FDA team found rusted and unclean baking equipment, uncovered food, non-food-grade packaging and reused oil.

The agency also seized prohibited food products worth Rs 31.14 lakh from three establishments in Mumbai and registered three FIRs, which led to the arrest of three persons. In two operations in Palghar, the FDA seized banned pan masala, gutkha and scented tobacco.

In the Pune division, two cases were registered over detergent-adulterated milk in Malshiras in Solapur district, and 16,730 litres of milk worth around Rs 6.69 lakh was destroyed. Overall, the operations involved action against eateries for hygiene and safety lapses, seizure of chemically ripened fruit and banned products, and cases over adulterated milk.- Ends