FDA Suspends Parsi Dairy Farm License Over Hygiene Issues

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the license of the Parsi Dairy Farm in Mumbai, citing alleged violations of hygiene and food safety standards. This action is part of a broader crackdown on food safety by the FDA.

During an inspection, FDA officials reported multiple violations at the Parsi Dairy Farm, a 110-year-old establishment located at Marine Lines. The violations included mould growth on the walls of milk production areas, poor sanitation, improper storage of raw materials, and a lack of pest-control measures. Inspectors also noted the absence of an effluent treatment system and incomplete medical records for food handlers.

Further issues identified included inadequate product labeling, such as missing expiry dates, and raw milk stored along mould-infested walls. The facility was also found to have a high infestation of houseflies and insufficient preventive measures against rodents and insects. Additionally, there were no records of cleaning for transfer vehicles, and many products lacked expiry date details.

The FDA's inspection also extended to the Parsi Dairy Farm's manufacturing unit in Palghar, where officials seized dairy products valued at ₹32.1 lakh, including butter and paneer. Unlabelled colostrum was also confiscated, and samples were sent for laboratory analysis.

This suspension is part of a series of high-profile inspections initiated since IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe assumed the role of FDA commissioner in May. Other establishments, including popular restaurants and ice cream parlours, have also faced similar actions due to hygiene concerns.

In addition to the Parsi Dairy Farm, the FDA conducted raids at various locations in Mumbai, including Goregaon, Mulund, and Govandi. In Mulund, inspectors seized cheese and sweets valued at nearly ₹20,000 due to labeling violations. In Goregaon, two milk vendors were arrested for allegedly tampering with sealed milk packets, resulting in the seizure of 558 litres of milk. In Govandi, officials destroyed 1,683 litres of loose pasteurised buffalo milk for non-compliance with packaging regulations.

State-wide, the FDA has seized food stocks worth over ₹1.90 crore during enforcement drives in mid-July, targeting various food businesses. These actions included the confiscation of prohibited food products and the dismantling of illegal manufacturing units producing banned items.