Two separate incidents in Mumbai and Ahmedabad have highlighted the importance of food hygiene and safety standards in restaurants. In Mumbai, a 25-year-old man found a cockroach in his cold coffee at a cafe on New Link Road in Malad. According to a report by the Times of India, the incident occurred on August 30th around 9:30 PM when the man and his friend visited the cafe. The man complained to the waiter about the bitterness of the coffee, which was served in two glasses. After adding more sugar, the man discovered the cockroach at the bottom of his glass just as he was about to finish his drink. He immediately took a photo of the cockroach and informed the cafe staff. He was taken to the kitchen, where the staff claimed there were no gaps in the shaker used to prepare the coffee that would allow a cockroach to enter. Despite this explanation, the man reported the incident to the Malad Police station, alleging that his beverage had been adulterated due to the cafe staff’s negligence. An FIR has been registered against the cafe owner and waiter, and the police are investigating the matter.
In a separate incident in Ahmedabad, a guest at the five-star hotel ‘Hyatt Ahmedabad’ found a dead cockroach in his sambar during a function. The guest made a video of the incident and lodged a formal complaint with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). The AMC’s Food Department inspected the hotel and found that the ‘Indian Kitchen’ section was in an unhygienic condition. As a result, the AMC immediately sealed the kitchen for 48 hours in the interest of public health. A ‘closure notice’ was posted on the kitchen door, warning of legal action if the kitchen is reopened without the permission of the competent authority. These incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining high food safety standards to ensure the health and well-being of customers. Restaurants and food establishments have a responsibility to implement rigorous hygiene protocols and ensure that their kitchens are clean and free from contaminants. The actions taken by the authorities in both Mumbai and Ahmedabad demonstrate their commitment to upholding food safety regulations and protecting the public.
