Licence of Mumbai eatery where 'The Odyssey' crew had chai break suspended
Insect infestation, blood and meat residues in fridge, urinal near pantry were among serious hygiene issues found by food inspectors during raid at Colaba's Olympia Coffee House
In its latest crackdown on unhygienic eateries, the Tukaram Mundhe-headed Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) department on Thursday (September 17) suspended the food licence of Mumbai’s iconic Olympia Coffee House over several serious food safety and hygiene violations.
It is the same 108-year-old restaurant where acclaimed Hollywood filmmaker Christopher Nolan and actors Matt Damon and Tom Holland stopped by for a tea break during the promotions of their film The Odyssey. The trio had Mumbai's famous cutting chai along with specialties like bun maska, caramel custard, and phirni at the restaurant.
Department officials during raids spotted unhygienic handling of food, insect infestation in pantry spaces, blood from meat in the refrigerator, and the presence of a urinal in the food storage area of the restaurant.
The department also suspended the licence of the canteen of civic-run Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central for "serious violations" of food safety and hygiene standards.
Blood in fridge, unclean water
The raid at Colaba-based Olympia Coffee House was based on a consumer complaint. During the inspection, several serious food safety and hygiene violations were observed, including a urinal located in the food storage area, the FDA told PTI.
Also read: Maharashtra FDA suspends 199 eatery licences over hygiene violations
It also found unhygienic food preparation and utensil-washing facilities, handling of food directly on the floor, use of unclean water, infestation of cockroaches and flies, meat and blood residues inside the refrigerator as well as improper segregation of raw vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
The department also reported the use of unclean water on the premises.
35 food handlers untrained
Other issues included the use of damaged wooden chopping boards and the absence of appropriate protective clothing among food handlers, the FDA said.
Further, out of 35 food handlers, 34 had not undergone the required food safety training, and mandatory water testing reports and essential sanitation records were not available, it said.
Also read: ‘Do you feel you’re a Lord?’: Tukaram Mundhe-led FDA withdraws key orders after HC rap
The food licence of the restaurant has been suspended under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and other food licensing regulations.
The FDA said the restaurant would be able to restart operations only after it rectifies the irregularities found during the inspection and after a re-inspection.
More raids; dairy products worth Rs 7L seized
With regard to the Nair Hospital canteen, FDA said serious violations of food safety and hygiene standards were found in the canteen.
Considering the health and safety of patients and citizens, the canteen's licence was suspended forthwith, and further legal action is underway, it added.
Also read: Mumbai's Ayub’s shut down: FDA suspends licence over multiple violations
On the same day, the FDA cancelled licences of Chembur-based Blink Commerce Private Limited, Ghatkopar-based Vishwas Sweets and Snacks, and A-1 General & Dry Fruits, Worli-based Milan Punjab for food safety violations.
The FDA also suspended licences of four restaurants in Pune and two in Nagpur.
As part of its campaign amid the festive season, 2813 kilogram stock of milk and dairy products worth Rs 7,38,230 was seized across the state, the FDA said.