Tukaram Mundhe’s FDA crackdown continues: Box8, Box8, Box8, Box, Mumbai parent EatClub’s Mojo Pizza loses license – here’s why | Today’s news

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), headed by IAS officer Tukaram Mundh, immediately suspended the license of Box8, Mojo Pizza’s parent company, Eatclub Brands Private Limited in Royal Palms, Aarey Milk Colony, Mumbai, citing violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

According to PTI, FDA officials reportedly identified several deficiencies during the inspection, including inadequate storage arrangements for food, packaging materials, chemicals and workers’ personal belongings. The facility was also found to have inadequate handwashing and hygiene measures, poor ventilation, inadequate pest control measures, and deficiencies in the inspection and cleaning of raw materials.

The FDA said the facility failed to provide food handlers with the required protective equipment. Officials also raised concerns about records of annual medical examinations for employees and found that the facility lacked a proper system for handling consumer complaints. The license was suspended with immediate effect from September 2, according to the order.

Rani Diets consultant and service provider license in Kurla West, Jari Mari suspended

It has separately taken action against consultant and service providers Rani Diets in Jari Mari, Kurla West, suspending its license after inspectors allegedly found rodent activity, unsanitary conditions in food preparation and storage areas, standing water and improper waste disposal.

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Inspectors reportedly found raw meat and other high-risk food products uncovered in refrigerators and freezers. Proper labels and dates were also allegedly missing from the food. Other violations included insufficient temperature monitoring, poor hygiene among food handlers and incomplete records related to cooking, heating and cooling, the FDA said.

He said the facility does not keep records of regular internal or external food safety audits. Some documents and records required under food safety regulations were also found to be incomplete or missing. As a result, the authority suspended her license with immediate effect from September 2.

What happened at Goodluck Bakery, Ashfaque Bakery outlets?

At Goodluck Bakery and Stores in Chembur, the FDA initiated proceedings to suspend the FSSAI license after an inspection allegedly revealed several violations. Reported outages covered food storage and pest control, water quality testing, sanitation, temperature monitoring, waste management, protective clothing for food handlers and employee health records.

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The FDA also proposed suspending the license of Ashfaque Bakery in Chembur for alleged violations related to food storage, pest control, water testing, packaging, temperature monitoring, personal hygiene, employee health records, employee training and food safety audits.

Navi Mumbai busted food racket: Maggi, Lay’s among ₹75.52 million stocks seized during the fake dates

A food fraud operation involving alleged alteration of expiry and use-by dates on packaged products has been uncovered in Navi Mumbai, with the FDA seizing stocks of brands including Maggi and Lay’s.

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The FDA said the license of Sadhana Enterprises at the TTC Industrial Area in Turbhe was suspended following the action.

A joint operation by FDA and Navi Mumbai Police Crime Branch was conducted from August 24 to 29. During inspections, officials reportedly found that production and expiration or use-by dates printed on food packages had been removed and replaced.

The original labels containing ingredient details and nutritional information were also reportedly replaced with fresh stickers while the products were repackaged, the FDA said. The practice is said to have enabled the sale of food products even after the specified use-by or shelf-life period.

Among the items seized were Lay’s potato crisps, various variants of Kurkure, Fun Flips, Maggi Masala and Atta Noodles along with ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products.

The FDA said 8,442 cartons linked to 10 export companies were seized, with the stock valued at ₹75,21,269.

Officials also seized unmarked and expired food products worth around ₹30,600, making the total value of the secured material approx ₹75.52 crores.

(With agency input)