2 hrs ago
Kolkata Food Safety Drive Suspends Licences Of 40 Eateries
Food inspectors checked restaurants, eateries and sweet shops in Kolkata.
They wanted to make sure food was prepared safely.
About 40 businesses had their licences suspended.
Officials said many kitchens were dirty or unhygienic.
Some food was reportedly stale, contaminated or made with ingredients past their expiry dates.
Inspectors also found that some restaurants reused cooking oil too many times.
The authorities collected food and bottled-water samples for testing.
Businesses that pass the checks can operate, while those that fail may have to close.
Kolkata authorities suspended licences of around 40 restaurants and eateries.
Inspections covered about 162 premises across Kolkata and adjoining areas.
Officials cited unhygienic kitchens, unsafe food, expired ingredients and reused oil.
Food samples allegedly showed unsuitable colours, stale food, fungus and pest contamination.
Authorities also issued 89 show-cause notices and 112 food-safety notices.
- Who
- The Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the state health department and food-safety officials inspected eateries; around 40 businesses received suspension notices.
- What
- Authorities suspended about 40 licences and issued other notices during a food-safety enforcement drive.
- Where
- The inspections covered Kolkata and adjoining areas, including restaurants and sweet shops.
- When
- The licence suspensions were announced on Tuesday; the wider drive followed Consumer Safety Week, launched on September 1.
- Why
- Officials said they were addressing poor hygiene, unsafe food, expired ingredients and other violations of food-safety rules.
Key facts
- Licences suspended
- Around 40 eateries and restaurants
- Premises raided
- Around 162 restaurants, eateries and sweet shops
- Show-cause notices
- 89 establishments
- Food-safety notices
- 112 establishments received notices under Section 38 of the Food Safety and Standards Act
- Reported violations
- Unhygienic kitchens, stale food, fungus, insects, rats and unsuitable food colours
- Additional concerns
- Expired ingredients and cooking or frying oil reused more than three times
- Testing plan
- Bottled water supplied by hotels and restaurants will also be tested
Quotes
Ashok Kirtania
State food minister
“The experience was an eye-opening one. We had to serve show-cause notices to 89 establishments, notices under Section 38 of the Food Safety and Standards Act to 112 establishments, and suspension notices to 40”
telegraphindia.com
“Bottled water supplied in the hotels and restaurants will also be tested. Those who clear the test will be allowed to operate; those who fail will be asked to shut down”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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