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Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Bhiwandi Darbar follows Cafe Goodluck: FDA suspends licence of another popular Pune restaurant
After Cafe Goodluck, it is now the turn of Bhiwandi Darbar in Pune's Camp, where the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a stern view of the unhygienic conditions and suspended the restaurant's licence. Suresh Annapure, FDA Joint Commissioner, Pune division, told The Indian Express that the licence was suspended following an inspection of the restaurant. A complaint was filed with the Cantonment police almost a month ago by a woman who allegedly found a cockroach in her soup at Bhiwandi Darbar. The police collected the food sample and sent it to the FDA. 'Our inspection has been completed. There are unhygienic conditions at the restaurant, and we have suspended the licence of Bhiwandi Darbar,' Annapure said. The restaurant has been directed to stop operations until it complies with food safety regulations. 'We have identified several issues where the restaurant has not followed rules, and they are mainly related to unhygienic conditions,' Annapure added. This action comes close on the heels of the suspension of the licence of Pune's popular eatery Cafe Goodluck at Deccan Gymkhana. There, too, the action of suspending the licence of one of the oldest restaurants was taken after a video purportedly showing glass pieces in a bun at the food joint went viral on social media. The FDA conducted an inspection and identified several concerns related to hygiene. 'We will again carry out our inspection after these restaurants – Cafe Goodluck or Bhiwandi Darbar are able to comply with the regulations,' Annapure said. The FDA joint commissioner, when asked about inspections and actions on other outlets of these restaurants in the city, said that they had not received any other complaints from other branches. 'However, we have appealed to citizens to be vigilant and ensure that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence is prominently displayed at the hotel premises. This is a mandatory requirement for all food businesses, including restaurants, to ensure food safety and hygiene,' Annapure said. 'We are also encouraging citizens to ensure they take the food bill at the hotel. So if there is any discrepancy, then it will be easy to complain based on the bill,' he added. In a relief of sorts for the FDA Pune division, which includes the districts of Pune, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Solapur, the staff shortage issue is being addressed. Currently, the Pune district has 15 food safety officers. However, vacant posts are being filled, and 21 new food safety officers will soon join the existing staff. Overall, there are 47 posts of food safety officers in the Pune district, and measures have been taken to address the shortage, which had affected the regularity of inspection drives. Street food hubs are designated spaces where vendors operate under hygienic conditions and safety standards that are certified by the FSSAI, This is as part of the 'Eat Right and Clean Street Food Hub' initiative. The FSSAI also uses a hygiene rating system for street food hubs, which is visually depicted by smileys on certificates. 'The more the number of smileys clearly provides consumers to easily understand the hygiene levels,' Annapure said, adding that the audit of the Sarasbaug street food hub has given this food space a clean chit. The FSSAI has appointed private agencies to conduct the audit, and other street food hubs will also be assessed. The aim is to strengthen food safety surveillance and also encourage self-compliance, officials added.
Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Cafe Goodluck stops ops after FDA suspends licence
City's iconic Café Goodluck on F C Road, a favourite hangout of students as well as those who like to bond over a good cup of tea, had to abruptly stop operations from Saturday after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended its food licence over alleged violations of the Food Safety Act. Routine health check-ups of staff, use of clean utensils, potable water for cooking, and hair covered while handling food are mandatory. (HT) The temporary suspension notice was issued on Saturday following an inspection conducted by FDA officials on Friday evening. 'The café has been ordered to stop operations until it complies with food safety regulations,' confirmed Suresh Annapure, joint commissioner (Food), FDA, Pune region. Established in 1935, Café Goodluck, one of Pune's oldest and most popular eateries, came under the scanner after a video surfaced on social media allegedly showing glass shards in its popular bun maska. Though the video went viral, no formal complaint was received, said FDA officials. 'We have taken samples of their bun maska and sent these to the lab for testing. During our inspection, multiple violations of food safety norms were found. The café will not be allowed to operate until the lapses are rectified,' said Annapure. FDA guidelines require hotels and restaurants to maintain hygienic kitchen conditions and ensure staff cleanliness. Routine health check-ups of staff, use of clean utensils, potable water for cooking, and hair covered while handling food are mandatory, the officials said. A senior FDA officer, requesting anonymity, said the inspection revealed several lapses, including no records of staff health check-ups and water testing to certify the place as safe for consumption of food. 'The kitchen tiles were broken, and the dustbin was overflowing and left uncovered,' he said. 'Even the fridge used to store food was found to be unhygienic and dirty.' Despite repeated attempts, Cafe Goodluck's management could not be reached for a comment.
Hindustan Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
FDA issues stop business notice to Blinkit's dark store for operating sans FSSAI license
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a stop business notice to a dark store in Baner-Balewadi associated with quick grocery delivery service Blinkit. The dark store was reportedly operating sans the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) license, said officials. The notice was issued on June 5 to Energy Darkstore Services, one of Blinkit's last-mile warehousing and partners. The dark store a month back had applied for an FSSAI license. The FDA Pune officials had put the license approval on hold due to incomplete documents. Even after one month, Energy Darkstore Services did not reach out to the food authority to complete the process. Following this, the FDA officials visited the warehouse and found the facility operating sans licence. Suresh Annapure, joint commissioner, Pune region, said, 'A notice to stop business till the license is received has been issued to the dark store which was found operating sans necessary license as mandated by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.' 'No food business operator can operate without an FSSAI license in the country. The dark store has been asked to complete the compliance and documentation on priority to get the license. After which a reinspection will be conducted by us, only after which the license will be issued,' added Annapure. As per officials, during the visit, the facility was found distributing packaged food items and bulk storage racks. The store was operating with compromised sanitary and hygiene conditions with food debris and employees not covering their hair while storing and handling food items, they said. The unit had around 50 employees and had cold storage units for milk, milk products and fruits, they said. On May 31 the FDA suspended the food business license of Kiranakart Technologies Pvt. Ltd.—the parent company of quick-commerce platform Zepto—for its Dharavi facility, citing serious violations of food safety and hygiene norms.
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Business Standard
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
After Zepto, FDA shuts Blinkit Pune store for no licence, improper storage
Days after suspending quick-commerce player Zepto's food business licence in Mumbai's Dharavi, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered the closure of a Blinkit dark store in Pune's Baner-Balewadi area for allegedly operating without a valid licence, The Indian Express reported on Monday. According to the report, the facility — run by Energy Darkstore Services, a Blinkit partner — was inspected on 5 June. During the inspection, Maharashtra FDA officials also identified improper food storage conditions. 'We have asked for proper documents to be submitted in order to issue a licence. There are non-compliance issues, and without permission, they have been operating the store in the Baner-Balewadi area,' Suresh Annapure, joint commissioner, FDA, Pune, told The Indian Express. Annapure said the facility has been asked to file a compliance report following which there will be a re-inspection. Moreover, Food Safety Officer Laxmikant Sawale said that action was taken following violations of Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which outlines basic hygiene and sanitary practices food business operators are required to follow, the report added. Blinkit is not the only quick commerce platform facing the heat from the FDA. FDA crackdown on Zepto Earlier this month, the Maharashtra FDA suspended the food business licence of quick commerce unicorn Zepto in Dharavi, Mumbai, citing non-compliance with food safety standards. During the raid, authorities found several food safety violations at a Zepto facility, including included fungal growth on some food items, inadequate cold storage temperature control, improper segregation between expired and valid stock, food stored directly on the floor, wet and unclean flooring, and the presence of stagnant water near stored food products. 'The findings constitute a failure to comply with the conditions of the licence,' the FDA said. In response to Business Standard's queries about the same, a Zepto spokesperson said, 'At Zepto, maintaining the highest standards of food safety and hygiene is non-negotiable. We have already initiated an internal review and are working closely with the concerned authorities to ensure full and swift compliance. We are committed to rectifying the lapses identified and strengthening our processes to provide the best and safest quality of products to our consumers. We are taking all necessary corrective measures to resume operations in accordance with regulatory obligations and applicable laws at the earliest.'
Indian Express
09-06-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
After Zepto in Mumbai, Blinkit in Pune faces action; FDA orders closure of dark store at Baner-Balewadi
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week ordered the closure of a dark store associated with quick grocery delivery service Blinkit in Pune's Baner-Balewadi area for allegedly operating without a licence. Suresh Annapure, Joint Commissioner, FDA, Pune, told The Indian Express that the action was taken on June 5 when an inspection team found improper storage conditions at the facility run by Energy Darkstore Services, one of Blinkit's last-mile warehousing and partners. 'We have asked for proper documents to be submitted to issue a license. There are non-compliance issues, and without permission, they have been operating the store in the Baner-Balewadi area,' Annapure said. Sources said several issues were identified, including poor cleanliness and improper cold storage. Food Safety Officer Laxmikant Sawale said the action was taken after the raid revealed a lack of compliance with Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which details the general hygienic and sanitary practices that food business operators must adhere to. 'We have directed them to submit a compliance report and then there will be a re-inspection,' Annapure said. The FDA's action is part of its ongoing crackdown on unsafe food storage practices across the state. Earlier this month, it suspended the food business licence of quick-commerce firm Zepto's parent company Kiranakart Technologies due to lapses found at at its dark store in Mumbai's Dharavi. The inspection was conducted by Food Safety Officer Ram Bodke, following instructions from Minister of State for FDA Yogesh Kadam and under the supervision of Mangesh Mane, Joint Commissioner of Food. The investigation revealed numerous violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as well as the related licensing regulations, according to the FDA. Visible fungal growth on food items, stagnant and clogged water near storage areas, which indicated poor sanitation, improper cold storage with temperatures not maintained as per norms, and wet, unclean floors and food products stored haphazardly, including directly on the ground, were some of the findings of the regulator.
