May 18, 2018
Subway outlet shut after consumer finds cockroaches in drink
HYDERABAD: Day after a consumer lodged police complaint on spotting cockroaches in an aerated drink served by the fast food joint, the Subway outlet within the Hyderabad Central Mallpremises in Punjagutta was shut, on Thursday. Food inspectors from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) who raided the place also served a notice to the outlet for functioning under unhygienic conditions.
The incident that occurred on May 16 came to light after the consumer, Marunganti Vamshikrishna Reddy, took to social media to post his grievance. Within 24 hours, the post went viral with over 6,700 people sharing the footage showing Reddy questioning a female staff. “How can you serve cockroaches? My daughter had a cockroach in her mouth,” Reddy is heard asking the employee in the 2.19 minute-long video.
Recalling the incident while speaking to TOI, on Thursday, Reddy said: “When my daughter consumed the drink, she felt something moving in her mouth. When she spat it out, I found two live cockroaches. When I checked the cup and the lid, I found a few more.” He added: “When I confronted the staff, they themselves invited me to inspect the kitchen. But later, a woman employee reprimanded me for entering the area and accused me of misbehaviour.”
According to him, not only was the kitchen infested with cockroaches, but the staff was also reusing lids and cups. Reddy subsequently registered a complaint with the Punjagutta police and GHMC’s food safety department demanding action against those running the Subway franchise.
“We suspect that the staff had cleaned the outlet before we reached for inspection. Despite that, we found cockroaches in the storage room. We have served a notice to the owner who has decided to permanently close the outlet. We have also sent samples for testing. Further action will be taken based on the report,” said Bhargav Narayana, health and medical officer, GHMC.
FSSAI Begins ‘Safe And Nutritious Food At Workplace’ Initiative Throughout India
According to the report by F&B News, continuing its campaign for safe and nutritious food consumption at homes and schools, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched a countrywide follow-up initiative. This new initiative, ‘Safe and Nutritious Food-SNF@Workplace’ will now focus on food habits at workplaces.
HEALTHIER HABITS AT WORK
“Since our workforce consumes at least one meal during working hours, behavioural changes at the workplace is critical. And, therefore, a resource book for this initiative, titled The Orange Book, has also been launched. It highlights the role of stakeholders, like administration, canteen, etc.,” stated Agarwal.
“Further, to create a self-propelling and sustainable ecosystem, the regulator has enabled a systematic framework of FSSAI-trained resource persons, health and wellness coordinators and food safety supervisors for every workplace. And a portal, www.snfportal.in/workforce, has also been launched, where interested workplaces can join the movement and access resources, information and links,” he added.
GOALS SET BY FSSAI
FSSAI also plans to extend this plan to holy places as well. The regulator also plans to reward workplaces who encourage healthy eating. Further, it plans to go beyond the regular canteen and cafeterias and look at development of systematic health ecosystems at workplaces says the report.
“The evaluation criteria would, therefore, include canteen/cafeteria practices and also the system in place to promote health and wellness. The matrix would cover regulatory and voluntary initiatives like ensuring licensed vendors for the kitchen/canteen/caterer, personal hygiene of food handlers and safe food practices as per food safety management service guidelines, display of food safety display boards in kitchens/canteens, having a trained and certified food safety supervisor, etc. There is also a provision for the auditing of the workplaces,” added Agarwal.
FDA alerts food business operators
Panaji, May 17 (UNI) Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has appealed to all food business operators dealing in food business by way of catering to compulsorily display a true copy of their Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) license, along with name and contact number of the Food and Business Operator at the place of banquet set up while catering for various functions.
A statement from the department on Thursday, said the Food Business Operators who were dealing in food articles by way of retail sale, wholesale, manufacturer, trader, distributor, supplier, caterer, repacker, restaurants, mobile carts, including those who participate in various exhibitions were informed that dealing in food articles without a valid registration certificate or license under the Food Safety And Standard Act, 2006, and rules/regulation, 2011, was in contravention of the provisions of the Act/Regulations, and was punishable with imprisonment and under Section 63.
The Food Business Operators who were found operating their food business without license would be dealt with imprisonment and fine, as provided under Section 63 of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, it warned.
It was mandatory for all food business operators to display their License/Registration Certificate in a prominent place at the business premises, failing which a fine will be levied on the defaulters, for non display of the license or registration certificate, by way of compounding of offence, it added.
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