MUMBAI: City's licensing authorities have found critical lapses in hygiene
conditions at Al-Fala bakery that had supplied cakes to a Saki Naka school on Monday
where 450 students fell ill after consuming them. Rodents ran amok in the
bakery, situated in a dingy lane near Kurla station, which lacked proper
ventilation, storing or preserving facilities.
Andheri court remanded the four accused in the case in five days' police custody.
Meanwhile, hospitals witnessed around 20 fresh admissions of Anjuman Noorul Urdu High School students after they complained of nagging abdomen pain and weakness. As of Tuesday, around 60 children continued to be hospitalized.
Inspections carried out both by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the BMC showed deficiencies in cleaning of the bakery premises and equipment. The cake mixing machine was rusted and in poor condition. No measures were taken to stop insects from crawling into food packets. Rodents had a free run on shelves where food items are placed before packaging. Ingredients were stored in unhygienic conditions.
When TOI visited the premises on Tuesday, workers of the bakery, some obviously below the minimum employable age, said only utensils used for mixing were washed daily. "It is not necessary to clean equipment daily. As far as the rats are concerned, they do not enter the bakery when the oven is being used," said one. The bakery has been around for over two years.
Another worker said they were made to eat the same cakes in the presence of the police. "We ate more than one but none of us had any health issues. The cakes supplied to school were prepared just the previous evening." The bakery owner could not be reached for comment.
The FDA found the bakery was running without the mandatory licence under the Food Safety Standards Act, 2011. "Cleanliness and hygiene were the major issues. Our prosecution department will look into the case as the owner has violated rules," said Suresh Annapure, joint commissioner, food. An offence of this nature could attract a penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh or a six months' jail term.
The BMC will also prosecute the bakery for operating without a health department's licence. Health officials have issued a notice, and also sent a report to the legal department to initiate prosecution. Civic education committee members have demanded action against the supervisor and beat officer for not checking the quality of food.
Normally, in food poisoning cases, accused are granted bail. "Looking at the number of students, the court remanded them to police custody," said Saki Naka police senior inspector Prasanna More. "Prima facie, it seems the cake was of inferior quality or not properly cooked."
Andheri court remanded the four accused in the case in five days' police custody.
Meanwhile, hospitals witnessed around 20 fresh admissions of Anjuman Noorul Urdu High School students after they complained of nagging abdomen pain and weakness. As of Tuesday, around 60 children continued to be hospitalized.
Inspections carried out both by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the BMC showed deficiencies in cleaning of the bakery premises and equipment. The cake mixing machine was rusted and in poor condition. No measures were taken to stop insects from crawling into food packets. Rodents had a free run on shelves where food items are placed before packaging. Ingredients were stored in unhygienic conditions.
When TOI visited the premises on Tuesday, workers of the bakery, some obviously below the minimum employable age, said only utensils used for mixing were washed daily. "It is not necessary to clean equipment daily. As far as the rats are concerned, they do not enter the bakery when the oven is being used," said one. The bakery has been around for over two years.
Another worker said they were made to eat the same cakes in the presence of the police. "We ate more than one but none of us had any health issues. The cakes supplied to school were prepared just the previous evening." The bakery owner could not be reached for comment.
The FDA found the bakery was running without the mandatory licence under the Food Safety Standards Act, 2011. "Cleanliness and hygiene were the major issues. Our prosecution department will look into the case as the owner has violated rules," said Suresh Annapure, joint commissioner, food. An offence of this nature could attract a penalty of up to Rs 5 lakh or a six months' jail term.
The BMC will also prosecute the bakery for operating without a health department's licence. Health officials have issued a notice, and also sent a report to the legal department to initiate prosecution. Civic education committee members have demanded action against the supervisor and beat officer for not checking the quality of food.
Normally, in food poisoning cases, accused are granted bail. "Looking at the number of students, the court remanded them to police custody," said Saki Naka police senior inspector Prasanna More. "Prima facie, it seems the cake was of inferior quality or not properly cooked."
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