Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 9: Mumbai's iconic K Rustom & Co ice cream parlour, a landmark in the Churchgate area for more than seven decades, has had its food licence suspended with immediate effect by the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following the detection of serious hygiene violations during a statewide inspection drive.
The action was taken on Tuesday after FDA officials allegedly found multiple sanitary lapses at the popular outlet. According to the inspection report, authorities detected the presence of rats and houseflies on the premises, expired food products, disruption in cold chain maintenance and the absence of mandatory food safety records.
The FDA stated that the violations constituted a serious breach of food hygiene and safety standards and posed a significant risk to public health, leading to the immediate suspension of the establishment's food business licence.
Founded in 1953 by Khodabaksh Rustom Irani, K Rustom & Co is one of Mumbai's oldest and most celebrated ice cream parlours. The Churchgate outlet is best known for its signature ice cream sandwiches served between crisp wafers and has remained a favourite among generations of Mumbaikars and tourists.
The inspection formed part of a larger statewide enforcement drive in which FDA officials inspected 16 hotels, restaurants and food establishments. Improvement notices were issued to 10 establishments, while the food licences of three were suspended over serious violations.
Besides K Rustom & Co, the FDA suspended the licence of Hotel Patilwada in Dhule for operating without the mandatory food business licence. In Nagpur, Shri Hira Sweets Pvt Ltd also faced licence suspension after inspectors allegedly found a dead rat near a food preparation area.
In separate enforcement operations, the FDA seized banned food products, including pan masala and gutka, worth Rs 9.6 lakh. An FIR was registered in connection with the seizure, leading to the arrest of one person.
Officials also confiscated milk, milk products, jaggery and other food items worth Rs 7.5 lakh from five establishments for alleged violations of food safety regulations, highlighting the state's intensified crackdown on food safety and public health standards.