NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Tuesday suspended the licence of M/s Park Plaza, a unit of Mahagun Hotels Pvt Ltd in Delhi’s Shahdara, with immediate effect following an inspection that found multiple food safety and hygiene violations.According to FSSAI, the licence has been suspended for 15 days in the interest of public health. The hotel has been directed to immediately cease all food business activities during the suspension period.The food regulator said the establishment has been given 15 days to rectify all non-conformities and submit a comprehensive compliance report supported by documentary evidence.Failure to comply within the stipulated period could lead to further proceedings, including cancellation of the FSSAI licence.FSSAI said the enforcement action was taken by its Northern Regional Office after a thorough inspection revealed multiple “critical and gross non-compliances.”Among the violations cited were the use of heavily deteriorated black cooking oil for frying, severe unhygienic conditions, active water leakage inside walk-in chillers, water stagnation, and heavy infestation of flies and cockroaches.The inspection also found visible fungal growth on tomatoes and beetroot, spoiled lemons stored for use, and the absence of segregation between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, ingredients and utensils, posing a cross-contamination risk.FSSAI further said inspectors found a live earthworm inside the food preparation area and around 63.6 kg of expired food products stored for use in food preparation.Other violations included deployment of food handlers with open wounds in active food preparation, a hairnet found inside a cocoa powder storage container used for sprinkling, drinking water bottles being refilled without prior washing or sanitisation, and kitchen equipment and contact surfaces lacking mandatory cleaning, posing microbial risks.(With inputs from ANI)
