Mumbai
oi-Madhuri Adnal
Mumbai’s iconic Olympia Coffee House has been ordered to shut after a Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) inspection found a string of food safety and hygiene violations at the 108 year old Colaba restaurant.
The action comes just two months after the eatery drew Hollywood attention when Matt Damon, Tom Holland and filmmaker Christopher Nolan visited the restaurant.
Mumbai’s 108-year-old Olympia Coffee House had its licence suspended by the FDA due to severe food safety and hygiene violations, including pest infestation and improper storage. The Colaba restaurant must address issues before reopening after the inspection.
The FDA inspected Olympia Coffee House on September 16 following a complaint. What officials found during the inspection included cockroaches and flies, meat blood residues inside a refrigerator and a urinal in the food storage area.
The licence has now been suspended, meaning the restaurant cannot prepare, store, sell or distribute food until the violations are addressed and the premises pass another inspection.
What the FDA found
The inspection report lists several problems with the way food was being prepared and stored at the restaurant.
Officials found food being handled directly on the floor, along with unhygienic areas for food preparation and washing utensils. The team also flagged the use of unclean water and damaged wooden chopping boards.
Cockroaches and flies were found inside the premises. Meat blood residues were found in a refrigerator, while raw vegetarian and non vegetarian food were not properly separated.
The inspection also found that food handlers were not wearing the required protective clothing.
The restaurant had 35 food handlers, but 34 had not completed the mandatory food safety training, according to the FDA.
Officials also found that the restaurant did not have the required water testing reports and other sanitation records available during the inspection.
Restaurant cannot reopen until cleared
Following the inspection, the FDA suspended Olympia Coffee House’s licence under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with the relevant licensing regulations.
Under the suspension order, the restaurant cannot purchase, prepare, store, sell or distribute food.
The licence can be restored only after the restaurant fixes the reported problems and passes a satisfactory re inspection by the FDA.
A century old Colaba landmark
Olympia Coffee House was established in 1918 by Syed Mohammed Merab and has been a familiar name in Colaba for generations.
The restaurant’s old world interiors, wooden counters and marble topped tables have helped it retain its old Mumbai character over the years.
Its profile rose further earlier this year when Tom Holland, Matt Damon and Christopher Nolan visited the restaurant.
The FDA action comes just a day after another popular Colaba eatery, Cafe Mondegar, also faced licence suspension over food safety and hygiene violations.
Olympia was not the only food establishment to face action.
The FDA also suspended the licence of the canteen at Nair Hospital after finding food safety and hygiene violations.
In all, the licences of seven food establishments in Mumbai were suspended. The list included Milan Punjab in Worli, Sadguru Sweets in Malad, Vishwas Sweets and Snacks in Ghatkopar West, Blink Commerce Private Limited in Chembur and A 1 General & Dry Fruits in Ghatkopar West.
The FDA has also been carrying out inspections as part of its festive season food safety drive.
During the drive, officials seized 479 kg of loose khoya worth ₹1,05,380 and 958 kg of sweet mawa valued at ₹2,10,760. The total value of the seized products was ₹3,16,140.
Officials said the products were being transported in extremely unhygienic conditions. The vehicle carrying them was also seized.
In a separate action in Palghar, officials seized another 174 kg of sweet mawa worth ₹48,720 over suspicions that it was substandard and misbranded.
Nair Hospital dean Dr Shailesh Mohite did not respond to queries. Olympia Coffee House could not be contacted for comment.
