The scarcity of food inspectors have called into question the quality of food available in restaurants and hotels across the state.
MUMBAI: The scarcity of food inspectors and the inadequacy of food-testing facilities in Maharashtra have called into question the quality of food available in restaurants and hotels across the state.
Though the state has sanctioned the appointment of 232 inspectors, over 100 posts have been vacant for the past five years, said a source from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Lack of testing facilities and fewer inspectors than required are crippling the food-monitoring process in the state,” the source said.
Some hoteliers said the impact of this shortfall is keenly felt in Mumbai, where eating out is a necessity. There are 15,000 registered eateries, big and small, in the city. Given the number of inspectors, it is impossible to conduct regular inspection of food samples from all eateries. Either random checks are initiated or inspections are carried out in response to specific complaints. “There are many eateries that have gone unchecked for some time. Nothing can be done,” the source said.
The FDA has the overall responsibility for testing the quality of food in eateries across the state. Health inspectors from the local bodies monitor the eateries for hygiene, employee health, and compliance with legal provisions. Grading of outlets also falls within the remit of these civic inspectors.
According to Dr Suhas Pingle, secretary of the Indian Medical Association (Maharashtra unit), the incidence of stomach ailments has increased. “As work hours rise, more people are eating out,” Pingle said. “Eating wrong foods, overindulgence, and eating at wrong places cause stomach ailments.” A number of chemists confirmed that the sale of over-the-counter laxatives and antacids are at a high.
Bippender Singh Sachdev, proprietor of the Sheetal Bukhara chain of restaurants and former president of the All-India Hotel and Restaurant Association, said inspectors target ‘big’ hotels. “Big establishments with licences are regularly checked,” he said.
“Most of the smaller eateries are unhygienic and violate the law, but they are let off.”
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