Maharashtra FDA bans serving food in newspapers, issues statewide food safety order

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a comprehensive food safety compliance order under the 'Safe Food, Healthy Maharashtra' campaign, banning the serving of food in newspapers or printed paper and mandating a raft of hygiene standards across the state's food service industry, ET Now reported.

The order covers hotels, restaurants, dhabas, cloud kitchens, caterers and online food delivery platforms across the state. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe warned that businesses compromising public health by serving unsafe or unhygienic food will face stringent penalties, including imprisonment, hefty fines, licence cancellation and closure of establishments.

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The order follows recent inspections that exposed serious violations, including food being prepared in unhygienic conditions, repeated reuse of cooking oil, improper storage of food at prescribed temperatures and deployment of food handlers without medical fitness certificates.

Under the new directives, all food businesses must hold a valid FSSAI licence and display it prominently. Businesses must also strictly implement FSSAI's RUCO (Repurpose Used Cooking Oil) initiative. Staff are required to undergo regular medical checks and FoSTaC (Food Safety Training and Certification) training. Food businesses must follow FIFO inventory management and use colour-coded chopping boards. Restaurants must also provide free safe drinking water and display calorie, nutrition and allergen information on menus, ET Now reported.

Businesses with an annual turnover above Rs 50 crore must undergo annual Food Safety Management System (FSMS) audits.

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Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, if consumption of unsafe food results in a person's death, the offender can be punished with a minimum of seven years' imprisonment, which may extend to life imprisonment, along with a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh. If unsafe food causes grievous injury or serious health damage, the offender can face up to six years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh.

According to ET Now, under the 'Safe Food, Healthy Maharashtra' campaign, around 4.5 lakh food establishments across Maharashtra will be inspected. Violators may face penalties, prosecution or suspension of licence.