FDA suspends IRCTC supplier kitchen licence over cockroach infestation, hygiene lapses

FDA Suspends Licences of IRCTC Kitchen and Three ISKCON Food Outlets Over Hygiene Violations

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the food licence of an IRCTC-linked base kitchen in Kurla that supplies meals to railway passengers, along with three food establishments at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Juhu, after inspections uncovered live cockroaches, rodent droppings and widespread food-safety violations.

IRCTC Supplier Found with Live Cockroaches

At R.K. Associates & Hoteliers Pvt. Ltd. in Kurla West, inspectors allegedly found live cockroaches in food storage and processing areas, uncovered food and food being prepared near open garbage. The establishment supplies food to railway passengers through a base kitchen operating under IRCTC. The FDA suspended the licence after an inspection found cockroaches in storage and processing areas, uncovered food, food preparation near open garbage, damaged floor tiles and cracks and damaged wall surfaces, among other violations.

Inspectors also found lapses in personal hygiene at the facility. An employee with an injured finger was allegedly handling food, while only 21 of the 34 food handlers could produce medical fitness certificates, an official release said.

Three ISKCON Establishments Hit with Suspension Orders

During inspections of three establishments at Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Hare Krishna Land, Juhu, the FDA found serious violations. The inspections took place on September 3.

At one establishment, inspectors found inadequate records of periodic testing of water used for food production, lapses in the inspection of raw materials and improper temperature and humidity conditions for storing raw and prepared food. Food and non-food items were stored in a manner that posed a risk of cross-contamination and pest infestation, while cleaning was inadequate and measuring and monitoring devices had not been calibrated, the press release said. The FDA issued a licence suspension order after examining the inspection report and photographs.

The food services restaurant at Iskcon, Juhu, was found to have an open rear kitchen entrance without adequate measures to prevent pest entry, inadequate lighting and lapses in laboratory testing, raw-material inspection and cleaning. Inspectors also found clogged drains with food waste and pest droppings, besides irregularities in medical examination, vaccination and training records of food handlers.

At Iskcon Govindas Restaurant, inspectors found lapses in food and drinking-water testing, raw-material inspection and segregation, cleaning, drainage, pest control, equipment calibration and food-handler hygiene and training. Its licence was suspended with immediate effect.

Other Food Establishments Face Action

The FDA recommended suspension of the food licence of Bombay's - The Food Fusion Cafe in suburban Ghatkopar, where inspectors found uncovered rice, raw chicken kept in an open container, improperly sealed cut vegetables, inadequate refrigerator temperature, defective drainage and unclean utensils. Records related to water and laboratory testing, staff medical examinations and vaccination were also missing.

Officials also recommended suspension of the registration certificate of Shree Madhuram in Borivali East after finding that an establishment registered as a hawker or mobile food vendor was operating as a food service restaurant. Inspectors allegedly found flies, rotten vegetables, stagnant water, defective drainage, no refrigerator temperature display and missing food-safety and staff records.

The FDA also suspended the licences of Kothari Sweet and Mulund Farsan Mart in Mulund West, Maharashtra Biryani Center in Goregaon East, and Mateshwari Milk in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, for alleged violations of various norms.

Milk Vendor Caught Mislabeling Products

At Mateshwari Milk, inspected on September 1, the FDA found that the firm claimed to sell pasteurised standardised and toned milk despite having no pasteurisation equipment on site. Loose toned milk was allegedly marketed as cow milk, while loose standardised milk was sold as buffalo milk. The facility also failed to meet basic quality control and sanitation standards.

State-Wide Crackdown Under New Leadership

The FDA has launched a state-wide crackdown on food establishments violating hygiene and food safety laws and rules after IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe took over as its commissioner in May this year. The recent spate of suspensions forms part of this broader enforcement drive targeting food-safety violations across Maharashtra.

The discovery of serious hygiene lapses at an IRCTC-linked supplier raises concerns about food safety standards for railway passengers who rely on meals prepared by contracted vendors. Similarly, the violations found at multiple ISKCON establishments highlight gaps in food-safety compliance at religious institutions that serve large numbers of devotees and visitors.