In Uttar Pradesh, a special inspection drive is going on against fast food retail chains and restaurants under the ‘Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai’ campaign being run by the Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration with the aim of providing safe and quality food items to the consumers. As part of the campaign, special teams of food safety officers conducted extensive inspections in Kanpur Nagar, Agra, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj and Varanasi on Monday. Due to serious irregularities, the license of 12 establishments and one food court has been cancelled and the food business has been closed.
Serious violation of food safety and hygiene standards
The teams of the department have inspected more than 180 fast food retail chains and restaurant units in these five districts till late evening. More than 110 Improvement Notices were issued when serious deficiencies were found. At the same time, the license of 12 establishments and one food court has been suspended and the food business has been closed. It has been clarified by the department that wherever serious deficiencies are being found, the food business will not be allowed to operate until it is rectified.
Special screening drive in 5 districts of UP
In Kanpur city, 52 units were inspected by 38 teams. In Agra, 21 teams inspected 38 units, 36 teams inspected 80 units, 15 teams inspected 30 units in Prayagraj and 20 teams inspected 40 units. Investigation and necessary action is going on in all the districts.
Serious deficiencies found at several establishments in Kanpur city
During the inspection in Kanpur city, serious deficiencies related to food safety and hygiene were found in many establishments. The food court of a mall in Kanpur was found to have very poor hygiene and sanitary conditions, excessive filth, damaged walls and food items on the floor. In view of this, action was taken to keep all the 10 establishments operating in the food court closed till improvements were made. Suspension of license was recommended for use of the same utensils for veg and non-veg food items and for poor quality paneer.
Action on poor drainage and sanitation system in Agra
A restaurant in Agra was inspected. The drainage system was found to be choked and the hygiene and sanitary condition in the kitchen area was found to be very poor. In view of the serious shortcomings, it was recommended to close the food business till the sanitation and hygiene system improves.
Deficiencies found in cafes and pizza outlets in Varanasi
A coffee café in Varanasi was found to be in a poor state of infrastructure. Possibility of food contamination due to damaged false ceiling, excessive filth in the storage area and unhygienic condition in the toilet were found.
Quality of raw meat in Prayagraj is questionable
During the inspection of PVR Mall in Prayagraj, proper storage arrangements for raw material and cooked food were found to be not proper and hygiene and sanitary condition was found to be bad. Frying pans and cooking stoves were being used separately for non-veg food. However, the quality of raw meat was found to be questionable. Necessary action is being taken in the matter as per food safety standards.
Extensive inspection in Ghaziabad
In Ghaziabad, 80 fast food retail chain units were inspected by 36 teams. The departmental teams checked the quality of food items in the establishments, manufacturing and storage conditions, cleanliness, cleanliness of kitchens, pest control, drainage, separate storage of food items and necessary standards related to food business. On finding deficiencies, correction notices were issued as per rules and action is being taken in serious cases.
Safe food, clean establishments and aware consumers
The Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration is emphasizing on ensuring that food traders adhere to the prescribed food safety and hygiene standards through the ‘Shuddh Hi Shubh Hai’ campaign. The teams of the department are not only examining the quality of food items but also important aspects like kitchen hygiene, sanitation, pest control, drainage, food storage, raw material quality, veg and non-veg food segregation and food labelling. The objective of the department is not only to take action but also to increase the responsibility towards food safety among the food traders and to provide safe food to the consumers. Where deficiencies are rectifyable, an opportunity for correction is being given by issuing improvement notices, while serious and public health risk irregularities are being taken for irregularities such as closure of food business and suspension of licenses.
