Maharashtra FDA Suspends Licenses of ISKCON Food Outlets Over Hygiene Violations

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken decisive action by suspending the licenses of three food outlets located within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) campus in Juhu, Mumbai. This move follows a thorough inspection that revealed multiple hygiene violations, including the presence of rodent droppings and other unsanitary conditions.

The inspections were carried out on September 3, as part of a broader initiative by the FDA to ensure compliance with food safety regulations across the state. Reports indicate that during the evaluation of ISKCON’s Hare Krishna Land, inspectors discovered significant lapses in hygiene standards. Not only were rodent droppings found in food storage areas, but there were also clogged drains filled with food waste, raising alarms about the overall cleanliness of the establishments.

In a related development, a kitchen linked to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation in Mumbai also faced license suspension. Inspectors flagged the site for having live cockroaches in food storage and preparation areas, as well as food being prepared in proximity to open garbage. Such findings highlight a serious disregard for food safety protocols that could pose health risks to patrons.

Further investigations at ISKCON’s main food establishment revealed additional issues, including inadequate checks on raw materials, poor storage practices, pest infestations, and insufficient cleaning processes. Regulatory authorities have expressed concern over missing documentation for essential processes such as water testing and employee health checks, including vaccinations and training audits. These deficiencies suggest a systemic failure in maintaining the necessary standards to ensure food safety.

At Govinda’s Restaurant, another outlet under ISKCON, inspectors reported stagnant water in cold-storage areas, blocked drainage systems, and inadequate pest control measures. Although ISKCON Juhu has stated that the FDA assessed compliance with food safety norms to be at 70%, the findings indicate that significant improvements are still needed. The FDA’s crackdown on these establishments underscores the critical importance of adhering to hygiene standards, particularly in a city where food safety is paramount for public health.

Source: scroll.in