Food Samples Collected From Sobo Joint For Quality Check | Mumbai News – Times of India

MUMBAI: The state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) obtained 10 food samples from renowned south Mumbai eatery, Bademiya, and has indicated that further measures may be taken if these samples do not meet required quality standards. Bademiya, celebrated for its kebabs and Mughlai cuisine, received a stop activity notice on Wednesday, instructing closure of one of its restaurants and two kitchen facilities in Colaba.
An FDA team inspected two of the chain’s kitchens, one at Tulloch Road, another at Florence House on Merewether Road. They also inspected their recently opened restaurant on Navroji F Road in Colaba. The inspections were prompted by a tip-off about unsatisfactory hygiene conditions in food preparation. FDA officials served ‘stop activity’ notices on witnessing severe infestations of cockroaches, rats, insects, and maggots and operating without licences. The kitchen at Florence House is used to cut meat and prepare biryani. Interestingly, Bademiya’s popular roadside food stall was found to possess a valid licence and was permitted to continue its operations.
Shailesh Adhao, joint commissioner of FDA, said they collected samples of raw and cooked food, including paneer, marinated chicken with masala, chilli powder (loose), turmeric powder, and jeera. They obtained four food samples of mustard oil and curd, chicken biryani, chicken kabab for analysis. The tests would mainly look for use of sub-standard material, use of low-grade food colour, among others. Adhao said none of the three facilities, including the restaurant that opened just eight days ago, had a valid Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence though they have BMC licence.
Bademiya owner Iftiker Sheikh said they have shut kitchens and will resume business after renovating and thoroughly cleaning them. The chain will continue to serve food from its Fort branch and the original stall behind Taj Hotel. About cleanliness, he acknowledged that rat infestation is a common issue in Mumbai. but denied any infestation in their kitchens. He said they will open the new restaurant that has replaced the previous eatery, Laxmi Vilas, after obtaining necessary permissions.
While Bademiya chain is not affiliated to Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association, its president, Sukesh Shetty, said their members receive regular hygiene training under supervision of FSSAI officers. But FDA officials said of 70-plus city eateries inspected, almost all got improvement notices for significant kitchen cleanliness issues. Six were shut down temporarily, two were fined — Paradise House, Bandra (E) Rs 40,000 and Krishna Fast Food, Charkop, Rs 15,000.