Mumbai: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of 105 food business outlets across the state, including those linked to quick-commerce platforms Blinkit and Zepto, and ordered seven establishments to shut operations over violations found during a special inspection drive undertaken ahead of Diwali, the regulator said in an official statement on Friday, November 6.

Source: PTI

The action was taken during inspections on November 4 and 5. Of the 105 suspended licences, 39 were in the Nashik division, 28 in Mumbai, 20 in Pune, 15 in Amravati, two in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and one in Thane. The Mumbai list included Blink Commerce Private Limited, which operates Blinkit, and Zepto Limited, besides food manufacturers, sweet shops, hotels, restaurants and caterers, according to the FDA statement.

Source: PTI

What inspectors found

The inspections found violations such as unhygienic manufacturing and storage conditions, improper food handling and packaging, lack of pest control, absence of temperature-control arrangements and non-availability of mandatory records and certificates, the FDA said. The seized stock included mawa, khoya, paneer, ghee, edible oils, farsan, dry fruits and various sweets. Establishments whose licences are suspended cannot conduct food business operations during the suspension period, the regulator stated.

Source: PTI

Seven establishments were ordered to close, among them Rajdhani Biryani Centre in Borivali, Mumbai, which the FDA said had violated food safety regulations; three of the closed establishments were in Pune. The drive also seized banned gutka and pan masala worth Rs 7.96 lakh from three locations, with three FIRs registered and two people arrested, according to reporting of the FDA statement. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe warned that businesses putting public health at risk would face strict action.

Source: UrbanAcres (FDA statement / Navbharat Times)

Other outlets named in reports of the drive included Biryani By Kilo, Tossin Pizza and Jumbo Burger. The FDA statement did not specify how long each suspension would last or the conditions for reinstatement.

Source: Inshorts (PTI)