KMC conducts drive on Dacres Lane, finds chemicals in food

Kolkata: Continuing its drive to assess quality of food including chicken, Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Friday conducted a drive on Dacres Lane in Central Kolkata. The drive was led by Member Mayor-In-Council (Health) Atin Ghosh and the food safety officials stumbled upon a number of irregularities with street food as well as registered license holder restaurants situated there.

"We have found chemicals used in spices at a number of street food stalls on Dacres Lane. We have given them the last warning.

At some registered restaurants, we have found harmful chemicals being used to give reddish colour to curries," Ghosh

said.

The food inspectors also found that turmeric powder used at various eateries were of inferior quality.

In a particular restaurant, chemical was found in cooked egg curry and the entire stuff was destroyed by the inspectors.

"We have collected samples of cooked as well as raw chicken from both restaurants as well as street food stalls and will examine them in our food laboratory to ascertain whether chemical like formalin is used," Ghosh said.

The civic body in the wake of complaints about dead chicken being supplied to the city from Baduria in North 24-Parganas have started their drive right from Monday and have been picking up samples of cooked and raw meat from various

eateries across the city.

"If irregularities are found with the eateries that are registered with the civic body action will be taken as per law on violations on Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act. In case of roadside eateries, we will lodge complaint with the Enforcement Branch of Kolkata Police urging them to take action under Section 272 and 273 of Indian Penal Code," a food safety officer said.