Mumbai hospital mess serving 400 nurses loses licence after raid by Mundhe's FDA

The Maharashtra FDA suspended the licence of Nair Hospital's nurses' mess after finding serious hygiene violations. The action came amid a wider statewide crackdown that also targeted eateries and seized dairy products.

In Short

• Serious food safety violations found during Sept 12 inspection
• FDA suspends nurses’ mess licence at Nair Hospital Mumbai
• Nair Hospital makes alternate food arrangements for nurses

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licence of the nurses’ mess at civic-run Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central with immediate effect after finding serious violations of food safety and hygiene standards.

The FDA conducted the inspection at the Nair Hospital facility on September 12. The department said serious food safety and hygiene deficiencies were found and took the violations seriously considering the movement of patients and the general public at the hospital.

Nair Hospital Dean Shailesh Mohite told India Today that the hospital has three canteens/messes. Food for patients is provided through the hospital canteen, while another canteen serves patients’ relatives, hospital staff and doctors. Both of these facilities are still operational.

The third facility is the nurses’ mess, which was raided and shut by the FDA. Mohite said the mess prepared food for around 400 nurses who are studying and working at the hospital.

Mohite said arrangements have currently been made to provide food for the nurses. The hospital will also implement the corrective measures suggested by the FDA.

However, Mohite said he had not been informed about the specific deficiencies identified by the FDA.

The FDA said serious violations of food safety and hygiene standards were found at the Nair Hospital canteen. Considering the health and safety of patients and citizens, it suspended the canteen’s licence forthwith, with further legal action underway.

OLYMPIA COFFEE HOUSE LICENCE SUSPENDED

Separately, the FDA also suspended the licence of Olympia Coffee House in Colaba, Mumbai, based on a consumer complaint.

During its inspection of Olympia Coffee House, the FDA found several serious food safety and hygiene violations. These included a urinal located in the food storage area, unhygienic food preparation and utensil-washing facilities, handling of food directly on the floor, use of unclean water, and infestation of cockroaches and flies.

The FDA also found meat and blood residues inside the refrigerator and improper segregation of raw vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Other violations included the use of damaged wooden chopping boards and the absence of appropriate protective clothing among food handlers.

Of the 35 food handlers at Olympia Coffee House, 34 had not undergone the required food safety training, the FDA said. Mandatory water testing reports and essential sanitation records were also not available.

The FDA also cancelled the licences of Chembur-based M/s Blink Commerce Private Limited, Ghatkopar-based M/s Vishwas Sweets And Snacks, M/s A-1 General & Dry Fruits, and Worli-based M/s Milan Punjab for food safety violations.

The department further suspended the licences of four restaurants in Pune and two in Nagpur.

As part of its festive-season campaign, the FDA seized 2,813 kg of milk and dairy products worth Rs 7,38,230 across Maharashtra, it said.

- Ends