Mumbai Darbar in Mahim Ordered to Cease Operations Due to Lack of Food License

In a recent enforcement action undertaken by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in Mumbai, one restaurant in Mahim has been ordered to cease its operations due to operating without a valid food license. Simultaneously, a cloud kitchen operated by Hyprkytchen Foodtech Pvt Ltd, which manages eight kitchens in Mumbai, has also been closed down for violating food safety regulations. This crackdown comes as part of a broader initiative by the FDA to assess and ensure the adherence of 68 eateries in the city to stringent hygiene standards.

The FDA initiated this drive on August 17 following a customer complaint about a rat found in a chicken dish at the popular Bandra restaurant, Papa Pancho da Dhaba, which was subsequently shut down. Among the establishments targeted in the recent enforcement action, Mumbai Darbar in Mahim was directed to halt its operations for lacking a valid food license. However, during a visit by HT on Tuesday evening, the restaurant was observed to be operating despite the order.

Regarding the cloud kitchen operated by Hyprkytchen Foodtech Pvt Ltd, FDA officials discovered a failure to maintain proper records of the condition in which frozen food items should be stored. Cloud kitchens typically handle frozen ingredients that are later prepared through frying and other cooking methods. Co-founder of the cloud kitchen, Nachiket Shetye, declined to comment on the issue.

A senior FDA official stated, "Our team conducted inspections at 68 restaurants across the city during this special drive. We have issued stop work notices to two establishments and imposed fines on two others due to various compliance deficiencies." These non-compliances encompassed issues such as absent water analysis and food safety reports, incomplete staff medical records, and more. The affected restaurants will remain closed until these concerns are rectified, and comprehensive compliance reports are submitted.

Additionally, the FDA issued improvement notices to the remaining 64 restaurants visited during the drive, emphasizing the importance of addressing and rectifying any identified compliance issues. Food safety inspectors (FSOs) will continue their vigilance, inspecting restaurants and eateries in Mumbai to ensure they adhere to the regulations outlined in the Food Safety and Standard Act of 2006. Despite the challenges posed by the vast number of registered eateries in the city, the FDA remains committed to maintaining food safety standards.

The initiative to enforce food and drugs regulations in Mumbai gained prominence following a customer complaint lodged by Anurag Singh, a bank executive, who found a rat in his dish at Papa Pancho Da Dhaba, renowned for its Punjabi cuisine. This incident resulted in the arrest of the restaurant's manager and two cooks, highlighting the need for rigorous enforcement of food safety regulations in the city.