12 caterers challanged by Food Safety team

JAMMU, Dec 15: Twelve caterers were challaned by Food Safety wing of Drug and Food Control Organization within the Municipal Limits of Jammu.

In view of season of marriage functions, a special drive for checking of caterers in Jammu city was conducted by the team of Food Safety led by Dr Parvesh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Jammu.

During the drive, inspections of different caterers at various Banquet halls located in Municipal limits of Jammu of City were conducted. Twelve caterers were inspected during this drive and out of that 11 caterers were challaned under Section 56 of Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA) 2006 as they were preparing the food under insanitary and unhygienic conditions.

Those challaned were Kashmir Caterer, Som Nath Caterer, VK Caterer at Royal Estate, Toph Sherkhania, Shiv Caterer at Afsar Guest House, Shakti Nagar, Ajay Caterer at Jagat Resort, Shakti Nagar, Pintu Caterer at Eden Garden, Shakti Nagar, Romesh Caterer at Kamala Palace, Roshan Lal Janki Nath Caterer and Sethi Caterer at Tripple-S Banquet Hall ,Akhnoor road, Sandeep Caterer at JK Resort, Arora Caterer at Satyam Resort, Marble Market (Trikuta Nagar), Raju Caterer at Sainik Farm and Vaid Caterer at Aay Vee Resort, Sainik Colony (Jammu).

The Food Safety Officers present in team were Ajay Khajuria, Hans Raj Andotra and Pervaiz Ahmed.

Street food festival aims to change perceptions

Visitors try out street food from across the country at the NASVI's street food festival in the Capital.

Tenth edition promotes idea that street food is not only tasty but hygienic as well: event coordinator

With the motto to change the perception about street food, the 10th edition of the annual street food festival organised by the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) kick-started in the Capital on Friday.

The event, which is being held at the Indira Gandhi National Centre of Arts from December 14 to December 16, promotes the idea that street food is not only tasty but hygienic as well.

National coordinator of the event, Arbind Singh said, “We began with the idea to promote entrepreneurship amongst these vendors, and change the perception about street food regarding hygiene. Today, when these vendors display their food at this scale, they get recognition.”

“Malls are getting repetitive and street food not only promotes regional flavour, but refreshing and affordable as well,” he added.

The event was held at a greater scale this year with the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Ministry of Tourism co-organising it. Started with a mere two-three States, it has grown over 26 States and 500 regional cuisines.

The food festival had visitors from all age groups, especially youngsters. There were several vendors who made their debut, while some had participated earlier as well.

The tandoor chai from the capital city of Rajasthan was one of the main attractions. The stall had around 500 guests within few hours of the event.

Apart from the tandoor chai, people gorged on sweets from West Bengal, Litti Chokha from Bihar, chicken from Telangana, and various other stalls.

“The masala is the main ingredient that makes our tea so special, but it’s a secret so we cannot tell you the recipe,” said Sonu Bhargav on the overwhelming response they received for their tandoor chai.

“We have been participating in this festival since 2015, and the response each year is really good. We have learnt the importance of hygiene and how to present our dishes in a more attractive manner,” said Jaikishan, a vendor from Rajasthan.

Keeping up with hygiene aspect, the FSSAI integrated their Eat Right Mela with event. The Eat Right Mela is a part of ‘Swasth Bharat Yatra’ to encourage people to eat healthy, eat safe, and eat fortified. It also promoted companies that are coming up with healthier alternatives. Several officials of FSSAI were present at the event.

“The festival, and the venue are much bigger this year, there are more number of stalls and cuisines,” remarked Tanya, a student who attended the festival last year as well.

The organisers are expecting more visitors on the second and third day.

RMC destroys 238kg inedible bakery items

Rajkot: Intensifying their crackdown on inedible items of bakeries, the health department of Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) destroyed 238kg of cakes, breads, biscuits and chocolates in different bakeries of the city on Saturday. 

Earlier, on Thursday, the RMC had destroyed 312kg of bakery items infested with insects.

The shops that were raided and where bakery items were destroyed were Bake House near Kotecha Chowk (38kg of stale cake base, expired cookies and chocolate compound), Sharda Bakers near Hanuman Madhi Chowk (47kg of expired chocolate balls, gems, toasts and biscuits), Hind Bakery in Bajarangwadi locality (53kg of expired bread and chocolate, Gujarat Bakery in Sanjaynagar on Jamnagar Road (26kg of bread kept in open), JB Bakery in Bajarangwadi (42kg of bread without best before use date) and Jalaram Bakery in Junction Plot (32kg of bread without best before use date). 

“According to the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, bakers are not supposed to exceed the use of food colour beyond 100 PPM, they are not allowed to use artificial sweetener, tagging is compulsory for them, storing cakes in a prescribed temperature is compulsory for them, they are not allowed to use pieces of fruits in cakes, they are supposed to segregate veg and non-veg cakes and are prohibited from using potassium bromide,” said RMC health official Pankaj Rathod.

The drive against inedible items of bakeries has been intensified, considering the approaching festival of Christmas and New Year, he added.