FDA acts against 415 city eateries

Asks food delivery platforms to not list food joints that do not follow norms

Punekars might miss some of their favourite dishes at the restaurant of their choice but it will be for a good reason. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked 415 eateries listed on various food delivery platforms to stop doing business. Notices have been issued to these eateries as they were found doing business sans licences. While the state FDA has already told e-commerce food service platforms like Swiggy, Uber Eats, Zomato and Food Panda that only those eateries that follow the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules 2011, can be listed on their food service platforms.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered Swiggy, Uber Eats and Zomato to delist unregistered eateries. The state FDA during a surprise inspection in October found that the eateries providing food to these delivery platforms were preparing the dishes in unhygienic conditions and functioning with gross violations of the food safety and hygiene norms. Later it was found that most of them were also functioning without licences making them party to gross violation of food safety rules. The state FDA then issued orders to the food delivery platforms like Swiggy, Uber Eats, Zomato, Food Panda that if they want to do business it has to be with eateries that follow the rules.

The FDA has issued notices to the eateries like, Down Town Pizza, Best Belgium Waffle, The J, Anonymous Café Bar, Mad House Grill, Subway, Chinese-Panti, Apachi Fluid lounge, Classic Rock Café, Barista, Keg and Barrel, among others. “We have issued notices to these eateries to stop doing business through online food platforms. As per the rules they have to mandatorily have licences but they were found to be functioning sans licences,” said assistant commissioner, FDA, Shivaji Shinde.

“Some of them have applied for the licences and some have started approaching us for it. If the food business operators have the licences we can have a control on them and as they have to follow the food safety rule the food prepared is expected to be safe and hygienic. We are also going to conduct an inspection of these eateries,” said Shinde.

State FDA commissioner, Pallavi Darade said, “We had issued notices to the online food delivery platforms earlier in October and taken them in adjudication for doing the business with eateries that don’t follow the food safety norms. During a surprise inspection in greater Mumbai it was found that almost 112 eateries without licences were providing the food through the delivery platform. As per the rules of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 it is the responsibility of the food delivery platform to see that the food sold is safe and hygiene but it was found to be not followed. During the inspection of these eateries, they were found functioning in unhygienic conditions and even the food being supplied by these eateries listed on the food delivery platforms was sub-standard.”