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Earlier, there was a government order that the KFC outlet will remain closed until further orders after the food safety officials found a lot of worms in chicken pieces and reported it to the Food Safety Commissioner-in charge. (Express photo)
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday granted permission to re-open
chicken and fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken’s (KFC)
Thiruvananthapuram outlet, which was closed down last week after worms
were found wriggling out of a chicken delicacy served to a family.
The court cautioned that the outlet should strictly maintain the food safety standards.
“It should ensure that quality food alone is served to the customers. The food safety officers can conduct periodical inspection to ensure that the outlet is complying with the the statutes, rules and regulations.
“The outlet should have the liability to maintain the freezer (-18 degree celsius) and keep the premises and kitchen clean,” Justice T R Ramachandran Nair held.
The court issued the interim order while considering a petition filed by Yum! Restaurants India Pvt Ltd, Gurgaon, challenging the state’s decision to seal the outlet at Pulimoodu, Thiruvananthapuram.
It also submitted that suspending of the food safety license is illegal. Earlier, there was a government order that the outlet will remain closed until further orders. Its licence has also been suspended.
The state submitted that when the food safety officials visited the KFC outlet, they found a lot of worms in chicken pieces and reported it to the Food Safety Commissioner-in charge.
During the inspection food safety authorities found frozen chicken with the manufacturing date April 12, 2012.
“Frozen chicken, which is almost six months old, if not kept at right temperature at all time, shall putrefy and infest with worms. The outlet bought frozen chicken from Coimbatore. It may not be possible to keep the temperature at -18 degree throughout the transportation and also for the prolonged period of six months. They kept chicken for long time in the freezer and this was the reason for the presence of live worms in chicken,” special government pleader Tom K Thomas submitted.
The state also said that both the claims of the outlet that the chicken was kept at -18 degree and cooked at 170 degree were not true.
The court pointed out that the business that is being done by the petitioner was not covered specifically by any such food safety management system.
But the state is free to insist to have a good hygienic condition on the restaurant premises. But the state should give such communications in advance in writing to the outlet.
Meanwhile, the petitioners sought a directive to the state to keep the analysis report without publication. To which the state said that only an informal analysis is being done. Once the analysis is completed, the result will be produced in a sealed cover at the court before taking an action.
The court cautioned that the outlet should strictly maintain the food safety standards.
“It should ensure that quality food alone is served to the customers. The food safety officers can conduct periodical inspection to ensure that the outlet is complying with the the statutes, rules and regulations.
“The outlet should have the liability to maintain the freezer (-18 degree celsius) and keep the premises and kitchen clean,” Justice T R Ramachandran Nair held.
The court issued the interim order while considering a petition filed by Yum! Restaurants India Pvt Ltd, Gurgaon, challenging the state’s decision to seal the outlet at Pulimoodu, Thiruvananthapuram.
It also submitted that suspending of the food safety license is illegal. Earlier, there was a government order that the outlet will remain closed until further orders. Its licence has also been suspended.
The state submitted that when the food safety officials visited the KFC outlet, they found a lot of worms in chicken pieces and reported it to the Food Safety Commissioner-in charge.
During the inspection food safety authorities found frozen chicken with the manufacturing date April 12, 2012.
“Frozen chicken, which is almost six months old, if not kept at right temperature at all time, shall putrefy and infest with worms. The outlet bought frozen chicken from Coimbatore. It may not be possible to keep the temperature at -18 degree throughout the transportation and also for the prolonged period of six months. They kept chicken for long time in the freezer and this was the reason for the presence of live worms in chicken,” special government pleader Tom K Thomas submitted.
The state also said that both the claims of the outlet that the chicken was kept at -18 degree and cooked at 170 degree were not true.
The court pointed out that the business that is being done by the petitioner was not covered specifically by any such food safety management system.
But the state is free to insist to have a good hygienic condition on the restaurant premises. But the state should give such communications in advance in writing to the outlet.
Meanwhile, the petitioners sought a directive to the state to keep the analysis report without publication. To which the state said that only an informal analysis is being done. Once the analysis is completed, the result will be produced in a sealed cover at the court before taking an action.
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