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FDA Shuts Thane Sweet Shop After Viral Video Shows Rat in Gulab Jamun Vessel
- •The Maharashtra FDA suspended operations at Harish Gulab Jamun in Bhiwandi, Thane, following a viral video showing a rat swimming in a container of sweets.
- •An inspection by Food Safety Officer Praveen Shinde revealed severe hygiene violations and the absence of a mandatory food business registration certificate.
- •Authorities noted that the small outlet did not manufacture its own sweets but resold ready-made items purchased from Kalyan.
- •Thane FDA Assistant Commissioner Santosh Sirosiya mentioned that while no rats were found during the inspection, local business rivalry is also being considered as a possible angle.
Key Questions Answered
The Maharashtra FDA shut down Harish Gulab Jamun in Bhiwandi, Thane, after a viral video showed a rat floating inside a container of gulab jamuns. During their inspection, officials also discovered that the shop lacked a mandatory food business registration certificate and had several hygiene violations.
Officials found that the shop was a new establishment operating out of a small 5x6-foot space and did not manufacture the sweets itself. Instead, the outlet purchased ready-made gulab jamuns from the Kalyan area to sell at the location.
While the FDA noted that the container had a heavy mesh cover on top, Assistant Commissioner Santosh Sirosiya hinted at a possible rivalry angle. He stated that in areas like Bhiwandi, high levels of local jealousy and competition can lead people to sabotage others to bring them down, alongside the general prevalence of rats.
