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In recent developments concerning food safety and hygiene standards in Mumbai, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken strict action against restaurants found violating regulations, with Burn-Bar and Kitchen, located in BKC's Pinnacle Corporate Park, being the latest establishment to face consequences due to hygiene standard violations. This move by the FDA underscores the crucial importance of adherence to food safety guidelines for public health and safety.
On November 3, a team of FDA officials conducted an extensive inspection at Burn-Bar and Kitchen, lasting nearly four hours. The investigation revealed several instances of hygiene violations, including breaches of licensing conditions, possession of expired goods, and the use of synthetic food colours in food preparation. Moreover, the restaurant lacked proper segregation between vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, raising concerns about potential cross-contamination. Additionally, the establishment failed to provide medical fitness records for its kitchen staff, a mandatory requirement, as well as water analysis reports from an NABL-accredited lab.
As a result of these violations, the FDA served Burn-Bar and Kitchen a stop activity notice, making it the 18th restaurant in Mumbai to be temporarily shut down due to non-compliance with hygiene standards since August. The notice serves as a stern warning to the restaurant industry, emphasizing the importance of maintaining food safety protocols to safeguard public health.
Shailesh Adhao, FDA Joint Commissioner (Food), stated that the violations observed at Burn-Bar and Kitchen fell under Schedule IV of the Food Safety and Standards Act, leading to the issuance of the stop activity notice. Despite the notice, it was noted that the restaurant continued its operations, prompting the FDA to plan another visit to ensure compliance.
This incident comes in the wake of the FDA's ongoing efforts to conduct comprehensive inspections of restaurants across the city. Since August, nearly 200 restaurants have been inspected, with 18 of them serving stop activity notices due to hygiene standard violations. While some establishments, such as Bademiyan and Papa Pancho da Dhaba, were allowed to resume business after repeat inspections, the stringent actions taken by the FDA indicate the seriousness of non-compliance with food safety regulations.
Furthermore, the FDA has been grappling with challenges related to manpower shortages, making it difficult to follow up with erring restaurants effectively. Despite these challenges, the FDA remains committed to upholding food safety standards and taking necessary actions against violators.
In a separate operation, FDA teams collaborated with the police to bust a milk adulteration racket in Vile Parle, where accused individuals were tampering with packets of Amul Taaza. The joint operation led to the destruction of adulterated milk worth over Rs 10,000, highlighting the agency's vigilance in ensuring the integrity of food products available in the market.
These incidents underscore the critical role played by regulatory authorities in safeguarding public health and ensuring the integrity of the food supply chain. As consumers, it is essential to remain vigilant and support the efforts of regulatory agencies to maintain the highest standards of food safety and hygiene in the community.
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