Restaurant kitchens to mop up or face music

It is the time-tested formula of carrot first, stick later. East Singhbhum health officials are telling eatery and restaurant owners to learn about the newly formulated Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (updated in 2012). If they don’t, they must eat the humble pie, which include registrations getting cancelled. After a spate of meetings with eatery owners, district health officials are taking help of trade and commerce bodies to make small-time restaurants and roadside vendors aware of the food act, especially its provisions on hygiene. On Monday, additional chief medical officer (ACMO) Swarn Singh held a meeting at his chamber with Jamshedpur Chamber of Commerce officials. On Tuesday, health officials sent messages and data sheets to other trade outfits. “We held talks with Jamshedpur Chamber of Commerce members and apprised them on the legal aspects of the act. Now, they will spread the message,” said Swarn Singh. Health officials will also meet members of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and market officers (bazaar officers) across neighbourhoods. Officials will hand them pamphlets on provisions and best practices. “We want restaurants, hotels and eateries to know the rules and regulations regarding manufacture, processing and handling of food so that they are prepared during a surprise raid,” added the ACMO. Once lessons are over, tests (read inspections) will start. “Inspections in eateries of East Singhbhum were supposed to start from May last week, but district food inspector Krishna Prasad Singh was on leave. Once Singh is back, we will form a four-member team to verify if provisions of the food act are being followed,” said the ACMO. It means surprise checks in kitchens of hotels and restaurants. If hygiene is lacking, owners will get improvement notices. During the next check, if standards are not found to have improved, the eatery’s name will be sent to New Delhi, with a recommendation to cancel its registration.