The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licence of K Rustom, a renowned ice cream parlour located near Churchgate railway station in Mumbai. This decision follows an inspection that reportedly revealed significant violations in hygiene and food safety standards.

According to officials, the investigation was part of the FDA’s ongoing “Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra” initiative aimed at ensuring food safety in the state. During the inspection, authorities allegedly discovered live rats and flies within the establishment, underscoring serious sanitation issues.

The FDA stated that the licence was suspended due to these “serious hygiene deficiencies and regulatory violations.” Furthermore, the establishment has been ordered to remain closed pending the results of food sample analyses.

Presence of Expired Ingredients and Rodent Infestation

The inspection conducted at K Rustom revealed a concerning inventory of expired artificial flavouring agents, which were allegedly stored for use in ice cream production. The expired items included a range of flavours, such as pistachio, pineapple, sweet orange, cherry, and several others.

Officials noted that these expired products were destroyed on-site to prevent any further use, highlighting the FDA’s commitment to consumer safety. Additionally, the presence of live rodents and flies was identified in both the shop and storage areas, further exacerbating the situation.

Inadequate maintenance of the required cold chain for ice cream storage and handling was also reported. These lapses significantly contribute to food safety concerns, particularly in an establishment known for serving a wide range of ice cream products.

Laboratory Analysis Initiated and Previous Findings Acknowledged

Food samples obtained during the inspection have been forwarded for laboratory analysis, with results pending. The FDA indicated that an earlier external report showed the ice cream from K Rustom contained only 7.94 per cent milk fat, which is below the mandatory 10 per cent stipulated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations.

This finding raises additional concerns regarding the quality of the products being served to consumers. The inspection was carried out by Food Safety Officers Tejaswini Patil and Akash Chavan, under the guidance of Joint Commissioner P R Singarwad and Assistant Commissioner Anupama Patil.

The FDA has made it clear that K Rustom will remain closed until the laboratory reports are received and further steps are determined based on these findings. The suspension of the parlour’s licence reflects the authorities’ commitment to enforcing food safety standards across the region.

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