Pune FDA Suspends Food Licenses Of Iconic Eateries Vaishali And Roopali

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in Pune has suspended the food business licences of two well-known eateries on Fergusson College (FC) Road, Hotel Vaishali and Rupali Restaurant, after inspections on Friday found breaches of food safety law. Both are barred from any food business, including dine-in, parcel and home delivery, until the lapses are corrected. The FDA said the action is part of the "Safe Food Safe Maharashtra" campaign launched by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. At Hotel Vaishali, Food Safety Officer Ajinkya Umap inspected the premises on November 13 and awarded 58 marks out of 98, resulting in a "Non-Compliance" rating. The FDA said the cramped kitchen had a freezer for raw material beside the women's washroom and the griddle for dosa and uttapam next to the men's washroom. Washed utensils lay on a table facing the washrooms. Boiled potatoes, cooked rice and other ready food were kept in an open corridor, while idli and dosa batter was being prepared in an unprotected area. Cut raw vegetables sat directly above cooked items.