Significant Update

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Maharashtra, suspended the FSSAI licences of five prominent Mumbai clubs after inspectors uncovered serious violations of food safety and hygiene regulations. The FDA also directed Goregaon Sports Club in Malad West to immediately stop its food business operations because it was operating without a valid FSSAI licence or registration.

The FDA conducted an inspection drive on July 27 across seven food establishments in Greater Mumbai, including clubs, restaurants, and canteens. Following the inspections, the agency suspended the licences of five establishments, ordered one to cease operations, and issued an improvement notice to another.

Five Clubs Face Licence Suspension

The following establishments had their FSSAI licences suspended:

• The Cricket Club of India Ltd.
• RK Juhu Gymkhana
• The Aparna Juhu Gymkhana
• MIG Cricket Club, Bandra East
• The Willingdon Sports Club

Major Food Safety Lapses Identified

DA officials identified widespread non-compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, citing serious deficiencies in sanitation, pest control, food storage, temperature control, and hygiene practices.

At The Cricket Club of India Ltd., inspectors discovered live cockroach and fly infestations in food preparation areas, poor waste management, water dripping onto food stored in cold rooms, clogged drains, spoiled vegetables, expired food products, inadequate food labelling, and improper implementation of FIFO/FEFO inventory practices. They also found inadequate segregation between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food preparation areas, increasing the risk of cross-contamination.

At RK Juhu Gymkhana, inspectors observed deteriorating walls and ceilings, poor drainage, inadequate hygiene facilities, improper food storage temperatures, missing records of frying oil usage, and poor personal hygiene practices among food handlers, including the failure to wear gloves, caps, and aprons.

At The Aparna Juhu Gymkhana, inspectors found rusted cooking equipment, inadequate sanitation facilities, insect entry points, poor segregation of raw and cooked foods, and insufficient cleaning and sanitisation of food-contact surfaces. They also noted that the club had failed to conduct mandatory food safety audits.

At MIG Cricket Club, the FDA found that an unauthorised third-party caterer, M/s Nebula Catering Services, was operating without a valid FSSAI licence. Inspectors also identified pest infestation, poor food storage practices, missing food and water testing records, and the absence of trained technical personnel.

The inspection at The Willingdon Sports Club revealed poor drainage maintenance, damaged ceilings, inadequate temperature monitoring, outdated food testing records, unclean food preparation areas, and the absence of proper cleaning schedules.

Goregaon Sports Club Ordered to Stop Operations

Goregaon Sports Club, located in Malad West, was directed to immediately discontinue food business operations after inspectors found it operating without the mandatory FSSAI licence or registration, in violation of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

Protecting Consumer Health

The FDA stated that the enforcement action aims to ensure compliance with food safety regulations and protect consumers from unsafe food handling and hygiene practices. The inspections underscore the importance of maintaining robust food safety systems, proper sanitation, and regulatory compliance across all food service establishments.

Source: India Today