Ants in mineral water; Mumbai plant shut

Food and Drug Administration authorities in Maharashtra on Friday suspended production at a mineral water plant in Vile Parle, Mumbai, following reports that ants were found in one of the bottles from there.

"We have asked the plant to suspend production till they rectify the lapses relating to safety and purification of water for human consumption," FDA Director Uttam Khobragade said.

The bottle in question was detected at Alibag, Raigad district, on Wednesday and subsequently a complaint was lodged with the FDA.

The underground water storage tank of the plant was not "well protected" and its cover was rusted, he said.

Since the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is the licensing authority, the FDA has also asked them to look into the matter, he said.