MUMBAI: Cockroaches in the food preparation area, food waste clogging the drainage, fungus-infested containers used to transport meals and rusted knives in use — these were among the food safety violations that led the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) to suspend the licence of the kitchen at Fortis Hospital in Mulund on Friday.
The suspension, following an inspection of the hospital’s kitchen, comes amid a wider crackdown by the state FDA on food establishments found flouting safety and hygiene norms. The food business licence, held in the name of M/s Sodexo India Services Pvt. Ltd, which operates the kitchen as a third-party dietary service provider, has been suspended. “We have taken note of the communication from the FDA concerning the on-premise kitchen operated by our third-party dietary service provider, which holds the relevant food business licence. It added that it was coordinating with the service provider to review the corrective measures being undertaken.
In a statement, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, said patient safety, quality of care and hygiene remained paramount. 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. “Appropriate alternative arrangements are being made, wherever required, to ensure the uninterrupted provision of safe, nutritious meals to patients and their attendants,” the statement said.
