Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman of Cardiac Sciences at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, noticed a baby cockroach crawling across his plate at the JW Marriott’s Romano restaurant in Mumbai while dining with a delegation of 300 doctors and foreign experts on Thursday. The sight prompted him to tweet a warning, tagging Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the hotel’s management.
Seth said the presence of a pest in a high‑profile dining setting was more than a curiosity; it signalled potential lapses in kitchen hygiene and food‑prep protocols. He cited World Health Organization guidance that cockroaches can carry bacteria, viruses and parasites from waste to food, thereby creating a public‑health hazard for both local guests and international delegations.
When the incident occurred, the group first informed a waiter, then the restaurant manager. A chef apologized, yet no follow‑up action was communicated before the guests checked out the next day, Seth complained. He added that the hotel’s silence reflected a lack of urgency, and he urged the establishment to announce corrective measures publicly.
The episode has come at a time when Maharashtra’s FDA commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe, has intensified inspections of food establishments after a series of hygiene violations. If the FSSAI deems the hotel non‑compliant, it could face a downgrade in its Hygiene Rating Scheme, which could affect its license to serve premium clientele.
Seth’s call has already prompted a private warning from the hotel’s general manager, who said an internal audit would commence immediately. The FSSAI has scheduled an inspection for the following week, and the hotel has pledged to implement stricter pest‑control protocols.
For the 70‑year‑old cardiologist, the incident was a reminder that patient safety extends beyond the operating theatre. He told a local journalist that a single cockroach on a patient’s dinner could undermine trust in the entire healthcare ecosystem, especially for international visitors who expect the highest standards of hygiene.