Mumbai: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the license of a mid-day meal supplier providing rice-based items to schools in Ghatkopar and Vikhroli, covering an estimated 3,000 students. The suspension was over severe hygiene and food safety violations.The incident had come to light after an opposition corporator had flagged the presence of small glass shards in mid-day meal of a Ghatkopar school. The establishment, Shruti Mahila Audyogik Utpadak Sahakari Sanstha, is based in Vikhroli.FDA officials said upon visit on Friday, there was no cooked food to inspect as it had already been dispatched to schools. They said one major violation was found in the establishment’s store room, where raw rice was kept with no pest control mechanism in place. “This was their main product. Their kitchen had flooring issues, and water was stored in a plastic container with an unclean covering,” said an FDA official.Earlier this week, FDA also suspended the license of e of Tewari Brothers Mithaiwala located near Opera house in Girgaon over severe hygiene and food safety violations. The move came after a video went viral online of a man alleging a stapler stapler pin was found in Kaju Katli purchased from the outlet.FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said: “Playing with public health will not be tolerated at all. Getting pure food is the right of citizens. If anyone is found adulterating or selling, storing, or producing banned items, stricter action is being taken.”
