Key Update

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued stop-business notices to two canteens at IIT Bombay and served an improvement notice on a third following a food safety inspection.

FDA officials conducted the inspection on Wednesday after receiving a complaint. During the inspection, they found that two canteens were allegedly operating without valid Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licences and ordered them to stop business operations.

Meanwhile, officials found that the third canteen held a valid FSSAI licence but failed to comply with certain food safety requirements. The FDA therefore issued an improvement notice, directing the canteen to address the identified deficiencies.

Unlicensed Canteens Found Serving Students

The inspection also found that one of the unlicensed canteens was operated either by the students’ union or the institute itself, without the involvement of a private contractor, according to an FDA official.

At the time of the inspection, a large number of students were using the canteens. The closure of the unlicensed facilities consequently raised concerns among some students about where they would get their meals. In response, FDA officials advised them to use other eateries operating with valid food licences.

Action Comes Amid Wider Enforcement Drive

The action at IIT Bombay forms part of the Maharashtra FDA’s wider enforcement drive against food establishments that fail to meet food safety and licensing requirements.

As the department intensifies these inspections, three major hospitality industry bodies have also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking intervention and urging authorities to ensure that enforcement actions follow due process under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

Against this backdrop, the action at IIT Bombay highlights the importance of valid FSSAI licensing and compliance with food safety requirements, particularly for establishments that serve food to large numbers of consumers.

Source: The Indian Express