FDA Seals Bhiwandi Sweet Shop After Video Shows Live Rat in Gulab...
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a stop-business notice and sealed the 'Harish Gulab Jamun' sweet shop in Bhiwandi...
By GT24x7 Reporter··GlobalToday24x7
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra has issued an immediate 'Stop Business Notice' and halted operations at 'Harish Gulab Jamun', a popular sweet shop situated in the Shanti Nagar locality of Bhiwandi, Thane district. The regulatory enforcement was initiated after a video circulated widely on social media platforms, purportedly showing a live rat swimming inside a large vessel filled with gulab jamuns prepared for public sale.
Administrative Inspection and Statutory Non-Compliance
Following public outrage over the clip, an inspection team from the FDA visited the commercial premises to verify compliance with food safety and hygiene standards. During the on-site verification, officials recorded several hygiene-related lapses and determined that the establishment was functioning without a valid Food Business Registration Certificate required under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
FDA inspectors collected food samples from the store's inventory, which have been dispatched to designated government laboratories for chemical and microbiological testing. Regulatory authorities confirmed that all commercial activities at the specific outlet stand suspended until further official directives.
Response from Shop Management and Regulatory Stance
The proprietor of the establishment, Harish Sahu, acknowledged ownership of the premises featured in the footage but stated that the timing and exact circumstances surrounding the video remain unverified. Sahu indicated that internal reviews and CCTV footage could help determine how the rodent entered the sweet vessel.
Food safety authorities clarified that regulatory enforcement actions depend strictly on statutory standards rather than external claims. Officials emphasized that mandatory compliance notices and penal steps are enforced to ensure that public health and safety protocols are maintained across food service providers.
Public Concerns Over Food Hygiene Standards
The incident has sparked widespread concerns among residents regarding hygiene protocols in local sweet shops and street-food outlets. Consumer advocacy groups and citizens have called for stringent routine inspections and mandatory registration audits across suburban markets, especially during festive seasons when sweet consumption surges.
Regulatory officials reiterated that establishments failing to produce statutory documentation or maintain sanitary conditions face strict administrative measures, including license revocations and legal prosecution.