Flat skillet near toilet: Licences of two popular Pune restaurants suspended

During a raid on Friday, November 13, at Pune's Vaishali restaurant, Maharashtra FDA inspectors allegedly found a tawa, used in making dosa and uttapam, kept near a men's washroom.

In Short

• Dosa tawa found near men's washroom at Vaishali restaurant
• Refrigerator used to store raw food items kept near washroom
• Roopali restaurant's open kitchen raises contamination concerns

Two popular Pune restaurants, Vaishali and Roopali, have had their licences suspended following inspections by food safety officials over serious hygiene and cleanliness concerns.

During a raid on Friday, November 13, at Vaishali restaurant, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors allegedly found a tawa (flat skillet), used in making dosa and uttapam, kept near a men's washroom.

Moreover, a refrigerator containing raw food items was found positioned near the women's washroom, per officials. Meanwhile, such ingredients were allegedly being stored in an open corridor as well.

The restaurant scored 58 out of 98 marks in the surprise inspection. Citing the serious cleanliness violations pointed out by the FDA inspectors, the eatery's licence was cancelled.

Several hygiene-related shortcomings also surfaced during the FDA's inspection at Roopali restaurant. The establishment's open kitchen raised concerns over the possibility of food contamination.

Officials also flagged a lack of cleanliness at the premises, following which its food licence was suspended as well.

Vaishali and Roopali are among Pune's well-known restaurants, particularly popular for their South Indian foods and beverages, including dosas and filter coffee.

The action against the two eateries comes amid intensified enforcement of food safety norms by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), headed by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, across the state.

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(Based on inputs from Rahul Gaikwad)