Mumbai: The state FDA on Wednesday suspended the licence of the contractor who runs the Akashwani MLA hostel canteen following allegations of stale food made by Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad. FDA officials collected food samples from the canteen; they said the licence will stay suspended till a decision is made on the lab report on the quality of food. The FDA is expected to submit its report in two weeks.FDA officials stated the action was suo motu. “Samples of 16 food items were collected,” an official said. This included the dal which Gaikwad claimed was spoiled. A source close to FDA minister Narhari Zirwal said, “Samples have been sent to the department’s lab in Bandra for analysis.” The most recent inspection of the canteen was in Feb, officials said.Visitors to the canteen TOI spoke to said food there has been sub-standard and hygiene poor. Manish Mokhade, a Yavatmal resident who visits the hostel with friends from political circles, said breakfast was satisfactory, but lunch is sometimes sub-standard. “The dals, chutneys and vegetables are not up to the mark, especially the oils used,” he said.Gundu Borikar, a political activist from Buldhana, stated that at times, the canteen management neglects hygiene. “Other than FDA, BMC’s health department should also keep checking the premises,” he said, emphasizing that the hostel and canteen fell under the state legislature’s administration. Meanwhile, sources in the legislature’s administration said action would be taken if food samples were found spoiled. – Eshan Kalyanikar & Chittaranjan Tembhekar