FDA Suspends Licences of Radio Club and McDonald's in Colaba Over Hygiene Issues
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the business licences of The Bombay Presidency Radio Club in Colaba and Khar Gymkhana over alleged severe hygiene violations. The regulatory action followed inspections that uncovered serious food safety lapses across the establishments, including inadequate pest control, improper food thawing practices, and visible spitting marks on the premises.
At The Bombay Presidency Radio Club in Colaba, inspections revealed a non-compliance rate of 47%. Food safety officials reported an infestation of live flies across multiple sections of the kitchen, as well as the presence of dead cockroaches.
Inspectors also documented hazardous storage practices at the Colaba club. Washing powder and other cleaning chemicals were found stored in close proximity to food items. Additionally, refrigerators designated for storing meat were found in an unclean condition, and dustbins were positioned directly beside cooking stoves.
In a related enforcement action in the same neighbourhood, the FDA suspended the licence of Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd, which operates a McDonald’s outlet in Colaba. The suspension came after a follow-up inspection revealed that the fast-food outlet had failed to resolve 18 out of 20 hygiene and compliance issues identified during an earlier inspection.
Beyond Colaba, the FDA also acted against Khar Gymkhana by suspending its registration certificate. Officials found that the facility failed to segregate raw and cooked food items, creating a significant risk of cross-contamination.
Authorities noted several other operational failures at Khar Gymkhana, including the absence of hot water facilities for dishwashing and the failure to thaw frozen food properly. The club also lacked systematic schedules for cleaning and temperature monitoring, and it had neglected to install mandatory grease and cockroach traps within its drainage system.
