FDA Seals Famous Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Eatery Over Serious Food Safety Violations
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sealed the well-known Uttam Upahar Gruh in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar after a surprise inspection uncovered multiple food safety and hygiene violations. Officials found reused cooking oil and vegetable fat, unhygienic conditions, pest infestation, and several regulatory lapses, leading to the immediate suspension of the establishment's licence.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sealed the popular Uttam Upahar Gruh following a surprise inspection that revealed serious food safety and hygiene violations. The action is part of the FDA's ongoing crackdown on food adulteration and unhygienic food establishments under the leadership of FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.
The inspection exposed several alarming irregularities, raising concerns about food safety and public health. According to the FDA, the restaurant was operating under a restaurant licence while also manufacturing sweets, which legally requires a separate food manufacturing licence.
Officials found that cooking oil used for preparing snacks such as samosas and bhajis had been repeatedly reused. The oil recorded a Total Polar Compounds (TPC)/BR reading of 58, significantly above the prescribed safety limit, indicating that it was unfit for consumption.
Similarly, the vegetable fat (vanaspati/dalda) used to prepare popular sweets such as jalebi and imarti was also being reused. The substance recorded a BR reading of 36, raising additional food safety concerns.
The inspection also revealed widespread unhygienic conditions inside the kitchen and food preparation areas. Cockroaches were found in the premises, while no records of pest control measures were available. Walls were covered with grease deposits and cobwebs, and food waste management was found to be inadequate.
FDA officials further discovered that Tartrazine, a synthetic food colour, was being used in sweets. However, workers reportedly lacked knowledge about its approved usage and permissible limits.
Other violations included:
•Around 25 to 30 employees did not possess mandatory medical fitness certificates.
•Fermented idli batter was stored in the open near a drainage line.
•Tobacco and lime sachets were found near the cooking area, with spit marks visible on the walls.
•Dustbins were left uncovered, windows lacked protective insect screens, and overall sanitation standards were poor.
Considering the seriousness of the violations, the FDA immediately suspended the establishment's food business licence and sealed the premises. Samples of the reused cooking oil and vegetable fat have been collected and sent to a laboratory for further analysis.
The action is part of the Maharashtra FDA's intensified campaign against food adulteration, poor hygiene, and violations of food safety regulations across the state. Authorities have reiterated that strict action will continue against establishments found compromising public health and consumer safety.