THE HINDU TAMIL NEWS

DINAKARAN NEWS

FDA sends guidelines to 19 vice-chancellors

Move comes after the administration received complaints from students across the state, reporting unhygienic conditions in canteens

FDA commissioner Pallavi Dadare

In order to ensure food hygiene at canteens of all the universities across the state, the food and drug administration (FDA) has sent letters to 19 vice-chancellors along with guidelines of food safety and security. All the joint commissioners personally visited the chancellors to explain all the 58 points mentioned under the FDA rules.

The move comes after the FDA received complaints from several students reporting unhygienic conditions in canteens at varsities. A senior FDA officer, requesting anonymity, said, "We have received some complaints regarding the substandard quality of food and unhygienic condition in canteens. Before we commence inspections, we wanted to send our joint commissioners to these colleges with guidelines, aiming to sensitise them about the issue."

Confirming this update, FDA commissioner Pallavi Dadare said that vice-chancellors have been informed about all the norms. "Considering the growing cases of obesity and high cholesterol, it is essential that the youth are careful about their food consumption. Through these letters, we have informed colleges about the parameters that are needed to be followed such as proper disposal of food, cleanliness of utensils and maintaining hygienic conditions in the kitchen," she said.

Soon, FDA will inspect these canteens to ensure all the rules are followed. Dadare added, "It is the responsibility of these universities to ensure these students are consuming healthy food. Even after this if we hear complaints, we will take stringent action against the authorities concerned."

Kitchens being closely monitored by health dept

Mysuru: The ghosts of the Sulwadi Maramma temple tragedy, which claimed more than 10 lives after devotees consumed prasadam laced with poison, remain fresh in the memories of the authorities, who are keeping a close watch on the kitchens where the prasadam is being manufactured for devotees arriving in T Narasipura for the Maha Kumbha Mela, which started at Triveni Sangama on Sunday. 

Dr S Chidambara, who has been appointed the officer in-charge of ensuring safety of food served to devotees examined the quality of the raw materials used for preparing the prasadam. Samples of the food prepared in the kitchens were inspected, and distributed to visitors only after the officials cleared it fit for consumption.

Dr Chidambara told TOI that food for the devotees was being prepared at four places. “Besides the food being manufactured by the temple authorities, many devotees are getting prasadam from their homes, and distributing it to the others. We have issued a list of dos and don’ts to those who are volunteering to serve prasadam on their behalf. Health department officials have been asked to check the quality of water by collecting samples, and two doctors will visit the kitchens and constantly monitor the condition of the cooks, besides ensuring standards of hygiene are not lax. We have installed closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in each of the four kitchens as part of the security arrangements,” Dr Chidambara said.

Fast food eatery asked to shut shop

Jaipur: A fast food restaurant in front of Chitrakoot Stadium supplying food items through online food suppliers has been found preparing food under unhygienic conditions. Health department officials have slapped notice on the restaurant, ordering shutting down the eatery until it improves the conditions.

The inspection by health department’s food safety wing was conducted on Sunday when online food suppliers’ representatives were standing in queue, waiting for packed pizzas, burgers, sandwiches and momos, for supplying them to the customers. 

It is the third fast food restaurant in the city which has been given notice for improvement in past 15 days. One such restaurant is undergoing complete renovation in Raja Park and the other is situated at Trimurti Circle. “We have found violation of rules of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 at the restaurant. There was a food handler who had severe skin infection on his hand and was found preparing food items. The owner of the restaurant did not have a food licence. The food handlers did not have any fitness certificate. Just outside the toilet, they had the space for preparing food. We have served notice to the restaurant to close it down immediately. Also, he has been asked to conduct renovation for making the place hygienic and to follow the rules of FSSA, 2006,” said a health department official.

The health department officials have allegedly found synthetic colour at the restaurant and also the soft drinks they kept, were past their expiry date. Also, the bread which is used for making pizza did not have any mention of an expiry date. “We have collected samples of paneer and we have also destroyed the curry which was prepared at the restaurant, on the spot,” he said.