The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a detailed food safety compliance order requiring all restaurants, hotels, and food service establishments across the state to provide THIS thing for free. What exactly is it? Scroll down to know more.
Maharashtra FDA Imposes New Orders For All Hotels
As per a report by The Print, after a departmental review meeting, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe stated that access to safe food and drinking water is a fundamental right. The Maharashtra FDA has imposed an order that requires all restaurants to serve water for free. Under the new rules, restaurants must put up notices to inform customers that safe drinking water is available free of charge and cannot force them to purchase bottled water.
The order applies to a broad range of food businesses, including hotels, restaurants, dhabas, canteens, cafeterias, banquet halls, bakeries, sweet shops, food courts, juice bars, catering services, cloud kitchens, and chain restaurants, as well as e-commerce food chains and online food delivery platforms.
As part of the new rules, the FDA has also banned the practice of serving food in newspapers. Establishments must use only food-grade packaging materials in order to prevent chemical contamination. The order further establishes more stringent operational standards intended to improve hygiene, transparency and consumer safety.
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Food Business Employees To Undergo Regular Check-Ups
If reports are to be believed, food businesses are now required to make sure that employees undergo regular medical check-ups and complete FoSTaC (Food Safety Training and Certification) programmes. Additionally, the reuse of cooking oil will be bound to stricter controls, while large food companies and restaurant chains must clearly display calorie information, allergen details and whether dishes are vegetarian or non-vegetarian.
The decision comes after inspections across Maharashtra showed multiple food safety violations, including unhygienic cooking conditions, repeated use of cooking oil, improper temperature control, food handling by medically unprofessional staff and the use of inadequate packaging materials.
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Additionally, all food establishments must possess a valid Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence or registration and display it prominently.
Not only this, but the FDA also warned that violations could lead to penalties, charges, and suspension or cancellation of licences under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
What are your thoughts about this?
FAQs
Is it mandatory for restaurants to provide free water?
Whether a restaurant must provide free water depends entirely on the laws of your specific country or state.
Can a restaurant charge more than MRP for water?
In India, yes. Restaurants and hotels are legally permitted to charge more than the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for packaged water.
Can you ask for water in a restaurant?
This is true pretty much everywhere. Restaurants aren't allowed to refuse to provide water; they can charge for use of a glass or the service, but not the water itself.