Two months after playing host to Hollywood stars Matt Damon and Tom Holland as well as filmmaker Christopher Nolan, Colaba’s iconic Olympia Coffee House has been forced to down its shutters, this time after a Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) inspection uncovered a litany of food safety violations, including cockroach and fly infestation, meat blood residues in a refrigerator and a urinal in the food storage area.
The action comes a day after another iconic Colaba eatery Cafe Mondegar’s licence was suspended over serious food safety and hygiene lapses. Among the violations recorded were unhygienic food preparation and utensil-washing facilities, food being handled directly on the floor, the use of unclean water and damaged wooden chopping boards. The inspection also found cockroaches and flies on the premises, meat blood residues inside the refrigerator and improper segregation of raw vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. The team further noted that food handlers were not wearing appropriate protective clothing. The cafe also did not have the required water testing reports and essential sanitation records available for inspection. During the suspension, the cafe cannot purchase, prepare, store, sell or distribute food in any manner. The suspension can be revoked only after the deficiencies are rectified and the premises pass a satisfactory re-inspection by the FDA.
The FDA team inspected the 108-year-old restaurant on September 16 following a complaint and found several deficiencies in its food preparation, storage and sanitation practices. Of the restaurant’s 35 food handlers, 34 had not undergone the mandatory food safety training. In view of the violations, the FDA suspended the restaurant’s licence under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, read with Regulation 2.1.8(4) of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
Its old-world character, wooden counters and marble-topped tables have long been part of its appeal. The FDA also issued a suspension order against the canteen of Nair Hospital for violations of hygiene and food safety standards. In all, the licences of seven food establishments in Mumbai were suspended. The hospital is run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and is one of the city’s largest public hospitals.
Established in 1918 by Syed Mohammed Merab, Olympia Coffee House began as a neighbourhood eatery and went on to become one of Mumbai’s best-known cafes. These included Milan Punjab in Worli, Sadguru Sweets in Malad, Vishwas Sweets and Snacks in Ghatkopar West, Blink Commerce Private Limited in Chembur and A-1 General & Dry Fruits in Ghatkopar West.
The restaurant drew renewed attention earlier this year after Tom Holland, Christopher Nolan and Matt Damon visited the establishment. Earlier reporting noted: The action against Olympia, taken on a consumer complaint, came alongside the immediate suspension of the licence of the canteen at Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central too, over food safety violations. Earlier reporting noted: Urinal In Food Storage Area, Cockroaches In Kitchen: Iconic Mumbai Cafe Loses Licence Urinal In Food Storage Area, Cockroaches In Kitchen: Iconic Mumbai Cafe Loses Licence Urinal In Food Storage Area, Cockroaches In Kitchen: Iconic Mumbai Cafe Loses Licence Earlier reporting noted: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday suspended the licence of the iconic Olympia Coffee House in Colaba after inspectors found a urinal inside the food storage area, an infestation of cockroaches and flies, and meat and blood residues inside the refrigerator, officials said.
