The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the food business licence of Sodexo India Services Pvt Ltd, which operates the kitchen at Fortis Hospital in Mulund, after an inspection found serious hygiene and food-safety violations while meals were being prepared for patients.
The inspection found cockroaches in the kitchen, food waste in drainage areas, fungus-infested food transport containers and rusted knives, according to the FDA action reported by The Indian Express. Sodexo’s licence was suspended as part of a statewide crackdown on food establishments announced by the regulator on October 16.
The FDA suspended the licences of 25 food businesses across Maharashtra, including hotels, restaurants, bakeries and canteens. The establishments were found to have violated Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
Fortis Hospital said patient safety, quality of care and hygiene remained paramount. The hospital said it had taken note of the FDA’s communication concerning its on-premise kitchen, which is operated by Sodexo as a third-party dietary service provider holding the relevant food business licence.
“We take the observations raised by the FDA seriously and have directed the service provider to promptly address them and ensure compliance with all applicable food safety requirements,” the hospital said. It added that it was reviewing the corrective measures being undertaken by the service provider.
The hospital also said alternative arrangements were being made wherever required to ensure the uninterrupted provision of safe and nutritious meals to patients and their attendants. The reported FDA action concerns the kitchen operator’s food business licence, while the hospital said it was reviewing the corrective response and arrangements for meal provision.
The wider enforcement drive covered several divisions of Maharashtra. Seven establishments in the Mumbai division had their licences suspended, along with two in the Konkan division, eight in Pune and eight in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division.
The action also included the Sophia College Canteen on Bhulabhai Desai Road in Mumbai. The college’s principal, Anagha Tendulkar Patil, said the institution had suspended the canteen contractor’s services with immediate effect and that necessary improvements were being undertaken.
“The college has responded promptly and suspended the services of the canteen’s contractor with immediate effect. This took place today and necessary modifications/improvements are being undertaken right away. The college consistently prioritizes the wellbeing of its students above all else,” she said.
The FDA’s inspection-based action places responsibility on food business operators to address the violations identified under the applicable food-safety regulations. Fortis said it would continue reviewing the corrective measures and maintain alternative meal arrangements wherever required.
