Food safety crackdown: FDA bans EatClub outlet for hygiene and pest issues

In a swift move to enforce food‑safety standards, Maharashtra’s FDA suspended the licence of an EatClub outlet on 2 September. The restaurant, positioned in the Royal Palms complex of Goregaon’s Aare Milk Colony, was found to be violating several provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Key findings from the on‑site audit included: lack of adequate storage for food items, packaging and chemicals; poor sanitation practices; insufficient hand‑washing facilities; dim lighting and weak ventilation; and major lapses in pest‑control. Rodents and insects were observed entering the kitchen through an unsecured back door.

Operational shortcomings extended to the staff level. Employees preparing meals were not supplied with basic protective gear such as aprons, gloves, head covers or shoe covers. Training logs and medical examination records were either missing or incomplete. The outlet also did not maintain a functional grievance redressal system for customers, and technical personnel were absent at the time of inspection.

The licence also failed to list ice‑cream and carbonated beverages, yet these products were being sold. Based on the cumulative risk, the FDA ordered the licence to be suspended with immediate effect. The sanction is confined to this single EatClub location; other branches, including Box8 and Mozo Pizza, continue to operate legally.

Alongside this action, the FDA revoked the licence of “Rani Diets Consultant and Service Providers” in Jarimari, Kurla West. The inspection uncovered a severe rodent infestation, dirty food‑preparation and storage areas, accumulated grease and food residue, stagnant water, damaged flooring, inadequate drainage and faulty waste‑disposal practices.