Food items brought to Raj Bhavan kitchen rejected

Food Safety officials are said to have detected and rejected certain items, which were brought to the Raj Bhavan kitchen here on Tuesday to prepare food for the President during his visit to the State, on grounds that they were unfit for consumption. Food Safety Commissioner in-charge K. Anil Kumar said inspections of items brought for preparation of food for VVIPs were a standard procedure and if any of them were found to be of sub-standard quality, the norm was to reject them and replace the same with superior-quality ones. The same had happened on Tuesday, he said, stating that “one or two items” were replaced. A report on the same was expected on Wednesday. Similar procedures were followed when inedible materials were detected during a visit of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam when he was the President as well, Mr. Anil Kumar said, stressing that it was ensured that Mr. Mukherjee was served only safe food. Unconfirmed reports said at least six items were rejected, including cashew nuts and other spices, from a total of about 350 items.