The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licence of Pasteur Ice Cream’s parlour on Mahatma Gandhi Road in Pune’s Camp area after an inspection found rat droppings, poor sanitation and multiple food-safety violations. The establishment has been prohibited from carrying out any food business until further orders.
The action was taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, following an inspection conducted on 10 November by food safety officer Satish Hake as part of the ‘Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra’ campaign. N. R. Sarkate, licensing officer and designated officer for Circle 6, issued the suspension order on the same day.
The suspended licence number is 11522035000153. Pune division joint commissioner Shrikant Karkale warned that continuing business during the suspension period or violating the order would invite stringent legal action.
According to the inspection findings reported by Civic Mirror – Pune, extensive dust and cobwebs were found on the kitchen floor, ceiling and walls. Parts of the wall paint had peeled off, while rat droppings were found beneath racks and freezers. The inspection also indicated an absence of pest-control measures at the premises.
The inspection identified a further risk in the way materials were stored. Fruits and other food products were reportedly kept alongside sanitiser and disinfectants, creating the possibility of chemical contamination. Food items stored in the freezer also did not carry ‘best before’ markings or other date information, according to the report.
The FDA found that the establishment had a licence as a retailer but was preparing and selling a wider range of food items, including samosas, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, pav bhaji and faluda. The reported findings raise questions about whether the activities being carried out at the premises matched the conditions of its licence.
The inspection report also noted that water and food-testing reports were not available at the establishment. Certificates showing that employees had completed FoSTaC food-safety training were reportedly absent as well. FoSTaC, or Food Safety Training and Certification, is the training framework used for food handlers and other food-business personnel.
The premises also lacked a sign informing customers about the availability of free drinking water, according to the report. The FDA’s order means that the parlour cannot resume food operations unless permitted under the applicable regulatory process. The authority’s warning places responsibility on the establishment to comply with the suspension order while further action is determined.
