The recent incident involving a rat found in a plate of food at a Bandra eatery has sent shockwaves through the city’s food enthusiasts. In response, the Maharashtra government swiftly ordered inspections of eateries across the state. However, a glaring disparity emerges as there are merely 13 food safety officers (FSOs) to oversee a staggering 18,481 registered eateries in the city. Although officials have been instructed to examine 5 eateries per day to ensure compliance with norms, the limited staff numbers mean that inspecting all eateries within the city will likely take a year, assuming every officer remains dedicated to the task.

The unsettling occurrence unfolded at Papa Pancho Da Dhaba, situated in Pali Hill, Bandra. Customers reportedly discovered a rat in their dish during a visit on a Sunday night. Promptly, they lodged a complaint with the Bandra police, resulting in the arrest of two cooks and a manager from the eatery. Following police action, officials from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) conducted an inspection, identifying numerous compliance issues. Consequently, the FDA ordered the closure of the eatery.

The Mumbai region’s FDA has only 7 assistant commissioners out of a total sanctioned 13 posts, and a mere 13 FSOs working within the city. These officers are responsible for assessing not only eateries but also sweet shops, dairies, and liquor vendors. Significantly, the city’s sanctioned FSO count is 47, leaving 34 positions vacant. These officers must prioritise their work across a wide range of areas and categories.

Speaking anonymously, an FSO lamented the enormous workload, saying, “After the Bandra incident, we were directed to inspect the eateries in the city. With thousands of eateries and only 13 FSOs, it’s evident what kind of work burden we are facing. Not only inspections but we are also expected to promptly file reports and issue notices to non-compliant eateries. Given the workload, it’s challenging to function effectively.”

Each FSO’s visit to an eatery involves collecting food and water samples, assessing kitchen and eating area hygiene, verifying pest control certificates, and evaluating the working conditions of staff, including chefs, based on their medical records.

“Given the parameters, we need to assess, it takes around 2 to 3 hours per eatery. However, with the workload, we can’t do justice to our work,” confessed another FSO. “The Bandra incident has prompted a comprehensive check of all eateries, and with the upcoming festive season, we need to monitor sweet shops and dairies too. Without sufficient resources, incidents may occur,” the FSO added.

When identifying any shortcomings or non-compliance, FSOs must obtain samples and forward them for testing. However, sample reports and prescribed penalties or actions must be approved by an assistant commissioner or joint commissioner. “Due to staff shortages, we need to prepare, finalise, and seek approval for reports. There are no data entry operators or assistants to support us. Moreover, many of us hold additional responsibilities due to a high number of vacant posts owing to retirements and transfers,” explained an assistant commissioner in the food department.

Shailesh Adhav, joint Commissioner of Food (Mumbai region), leading the newly launched campaign, acknowledged the staffing challenge: “We are aware of the inverse proportion of the eateries and FSO numbers. However, our approach is focused on intelligence and surprise checks. Priority is given to eateries with complaints or intelligence information.”

FDA commissioner responds to concerns

In response to staffing concerns, FDA Commissioner Abhimanyu Kale stated, “The government acknowledges the issue of staff shortages and is actively working to address it. The Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) is in the process of advertising for 200 additional FSO positions for the entire state, which will alleviate the burden on existing officials.”

Seven
No of Mumbai region FDA assistant commissioners

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