- Prince Bakery sealed in Thane by FDA.
- Action taken due to traditional wood-fired oven use.
- Bombay High Court ordered ban on wood-fired ovens.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has sealed the popular Prince Bakery in Kalyan, Thane, following a complaint over its use of a traditional wood-fired oven to prepare rotis and bread.
The action comes in compliance with directions from the Bombay High Court, which had ordered bakeries across Maharashtra to stop using coal- and wood-fired ovens and shift to cleaner alternatives such as LPG, piped gas or electric ovens.
Bakery Sealed After Complaint
According to bakery employees, the FDA acted after receiving a complaint alleging that Prince Bakery was using a wood-fired stove to bake bread. Officials subsequently sealed the establishment, while further legal proceedings are underway.
The bakery produces bread on a large scale and supplies its products to several shops across the city, potentially widening the impact of the action.
Why Did The Court Ban Wood-Fired Ovens?
The Bombay High Court's directive was aimed at addressing the environmental and public health impact of burning coal and wood. The court called for immediate and effective measures to curb air pollution caused by such fuels.
The order requires bakeries to shift to cleaner cooking options, including LPG, piped gas and electric ovens.
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Bakery Owners Raise Concerns Over Taste, Cost
The shift away from traditional ovens has become a concern for bakery operators, many of whom have used wood-fired ovens for generations.
Owners argue that replacing these ovens can be expensive and technically difficult, particularly because of the specialised design of their dome-shaped ovens. They also fear that switching to cleaner fuels could alter the traditional taste of rotis and bread.
However, the court maintained that commercial interests cannot override the public's right to clean air. It emphasised that no business has an unrestricted right to pollute the environment and that protecting the fundamental right to live in a clean environment must take priority.