Eat with caution…
Srinagar, Feb 11: Asserting that majority of restaurants and bakery shops in the City didn’t conform to food safety and standard rules as they prepare food under unhygienic conditions, authorities have issued notices to them to improve or face action.
Officials said that around 80 percent restaurants and bakery shops of the City prepare food in unhygienic conditions and majority of them are not aware about the requisite standards.
“During our recent inspection we found majority of the food and bakery units in city not following proper hygienic standards and the most strange thing was that they were not aware about the guidelines and rules,” said Public Analyst, Drugs and Food Control Organization, Hamidullah Dar.
The conditions of rooms in which food is prepared, utensils used, as also the condition of workers have been found sub-standardized in these units.
However, he said that strong note has been taken of the issue and strict guidelines have been issued to restaurants and bakery owners, and in case they fail to comply, strong action will be taken against them.
“It was not possible for them to improve within short period of time so we have given them two month’s time. After that strong action in the form of fine and punishment will follow against those who are found culpable,” said Dar.
He said that special team has been formed to conduct regular inspections and examination to keep these units under check.
He said that with the help of implementation of Food Safety Standards Act, 2006 which came into force in Jammu and Kashmir on August, 05, 2011, several rules and guidelines regarding food safety became clear and awareness of people increased to large extent.
“With the act not only restaurant and bakery owners but other food manufacturing units have also got clear guidelines,” Dar added.
He said that under the Act, purchaser has also been empowered to have any article of food analyzed by food analyst on payment of small prescribed fee.
He urged the people to lodge complaints in his department if they found anything wrong anywhere.
However, the restaurants and bakery owners in the City refuted the claims of the Public Analyst, and maintained that they are conforming to the rules and regulations properly.
“We strictly follow the rules and have improved hygienic conditions,” claimed Himayun Jan, a local bakery owner.
Srinagar, Feb 11: Asserting that majority of restaurants and bakery shops in the City didn’t conform to food safety and standard rules as they prepare food under unhygienic conditions, authorities have issued notices to them to improve or face action.
Officials said that around 80 percent restaurants and bakery shops of the City prepare food in unhygienic conditions and majority of them are not aware about the requisite standards.
“During our recent inspection we found majority of the food and bakery units in city not following proper hygienic standards and the most strange thing was that they were not aware about the guidelines and rules,” said Public Analyst, Drugs and Food Control Organization, Hamidullah Dar.
The conditions of rooms in which food is prepared, utensils used, as also the condition of workers have been found sub-standardized in these units.
However, he said that strong note has been taken of the issue and strict guidelines have been issued to restaurants and bakery owners, and in case they fail to comply, strong action will be taken against them.
“It was not possible for them to improve within short period of time so we have given them two month’s time. After that strong action in the form of fine and punishment will follow against those who are found culpable,” said Dar.
He said that special team has been formed to conduct regular inspections and examination to keep these units under check.
He said that with the help of implementation of Food Safety Standards Act, 2006 which came into force in Jammu and Kashmir on August, 05, 2011, several rules and guidelines regarding food safety became clear and awareness of people increased to large extent.
“With the act not only restaurant and bakery owners but other food manufacturing units have also got clear guidelines,” Dar added.
He said that under the Act, purchaser has also been empowered to have any article of food analyzed by food analyst on payment of small prescribed fee.
He urged the people to lodge complaints in his department if they found anything wrong anywhere.
However, the restaurants and bakery owners in the City refuted the claims of the Public Analyst, and maintained that they are conforming to the rules and regulations properly.
“We strictly follow the rules and have improved hygienic conditions,” claimed Himayun Jan, a local bakery owner.
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