Mumbai News: FDA Clears MLA Hostel Canteen Food As Fresh But Flags 19 Safety Violations

Mumbai: The food served at the Akashwani MLA Hostel in Churchgate was not stale, according to laboratory tests conducted by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The sample was collected immediately after Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad allegedly slapped and punched a canteen employee on July 9, 2025, claiming he had been served stale food.

A senior official from Maharashtra FDA confirmed that the samples collected from the canteen were tested, and the lab reports did not find any signs of spoilage. "The food was not stale," the official said, based on the findings.

The inspection was carried out shortly after an incident on July 9, 2025, in which Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad allegedly slapped and punched a canteen staff member, claiming he was served stale food.

Following the altercation, a team of six FDA officials visited the canteen run by Ajanta Caterers, conducted an on-the-spot inspection, and collected 16 food samples. These were then sent to a laboratory for testing, and the reports have since confirmed the food was safe to consume.

Gaikwad had alleged that he ordered dal, rice, and chapatis, and began feeling unwell after the first bite, even vomiting. He claimed the dal had a foul smell and bad taste, and that he had raised concerns about the quality of food at the canteen several times in the past.

The FDA official clarified that the dal served was hot at the time but had been stored in a plastic bag, which likely altered its taste and caused an unpleasant smell. "This may have led to the perception that the food was stale," the official said.

However, FDA Food Safety Officer R.S. Bodke, who led the inspection, found at least 19 critical violations in the kitchen, including poor sanitation, flawed kitchen design, lack of personal hygiene, weak operational control, and inadequate record-keeping.

Ajanta Caterers, which has been running the canteen since June 26, 2024, under a three-year, three-month contract valid till September 27, 2027, was found in violation of several provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

Based on these findings, Assistant Commissioner (Food) Anupama Balasaheb Patil issued an immediate suspension order against the caterer, citing failure to comply with statutory food safety norms.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra FDA has announced plans to conduct surprise inspections of canteens across government premises to ensure food quality. “We have the authority to inspect food served in government institutions, and we will do so in the coming days,” said the official. He added that while the FDA monitors food quality, the upkeep of the premises lies with other departments, and caterers should coordinate with them to ensure overall compliance.