Thane: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has moved to seal the canteen at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital in Kalwa after a cockroach was found in a meal served to a patient, an incident that prompted a high-level inspection and the immediate suspension of food services.
The problem surfaced on August 28, when an eye-surgery patient in Ward No. 6 reported finding the insect in his dinner. The complaint quickly drew the attention of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders, who held a sit-in at the dean’s office demanding strict action.
An FDA team led by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe then carried out a detailed inspection of the hospital kitchen. Officials said they uncovered serious violations of food safety rules and, on that basis, ordered operations at the canteen—run by Ram Canteen—to be stopped at once, as reported by Free Press Journal.
“The safety and health of patients are non-negotiable. Following inspection, operations at the kitchen were immediately halted due to serious non-compliance with food safety standards. The facility will remain closed and will not be permitted to resume operations under any circumstances until a full inspection is completed and official approval is granted,” an FDA representative stated.
Hospital dean Dr Swapnali Kadam confirmed the shutdown, adding that the canteen would remain closed until the FDA finishes its inquiry and grants formal approval to restart.
Stop-Gap Meal Supply
To ensure patients do not face disruption, the hospital has arranged for hygienic, nutritious meals to be brought in from an alternate provider until the canteen issue is fully resolved.
MNS Presses For Ban
Swapnil Mahindrakar, Thane City President of the MNS Public Welfare and Legal Cell, said the FDA’s action was a good first step but insisted on harsher penalties for the contractor.
“While the FDA’s intervention is welcome, merely shutting down the canteen is not enough. The contractor who jeopardised patient health must be permanently blacklisted and barred from receiving any future contracts from the Thane Municipal Corporation,” Mahindrakar said.
