GUWAHATI | Five Eateries Receive Closure Notice

The Food Safety department, Kamrup Metropolitan District has served 'closure and improvement' notice to five restaurants and hotels in the city.

As per reports, the five restaurants are Punjab Cabin,Shubhraj Hotel and Restaurant, Hotel Crown, Basanti Hotel and Chakum ChukumFast Food. The drive was launched by Senior Food Safety Officer, Tarun Dasand Anil Sharma.

The department directed to keep the kitchen immediatelyclose for 7 (seven) days from the date and time of the received of the officialnotice and initiate necessary renovation and correction of all the abovementioned loopholes within a period of 7 (seven) days.

During an inspection conducted in the mentioned hotels and restaurants,many anomalies in connection with sanitary and hygienic requirements for foodmanufacturer/processor/ handler.

The place where food is manufactured processed or handleddoes not comply with the following requirements:

1. The working place is not clean, not adequately lighted and not well ventilated and has no sufficient free space for movement. The working place is not having adequate space for manufacturing and storage to maintain overall hygienic environment. The working place is not clean, not adequately lighted and not well ventilated and has no sufficient free space for movement.
2. Floor, ceiling and walls are not maintained in a sound condition. The floor and skirted walls are very dirty and not clean properly as per requirement with an effective disinfectant. The kitchen is also not free from insects as windows, doors and other openings are not fitted with net or screen as required to make the premise insect free.
3. Equipment and machinery are very dirty and arrangements for cleaning of containers, Tables, working parts of machinery, etc. are not in proper condition.
4. Vessels, containers or other equipment used for preparation may likely to cause contamination and may be injurious to health as it is employed in the preparation, packing or storage of food. All equipments are not clean, washed, dried and stacked properly which may lead to growth of mould/ fungi and infestation.  As the equipment are not placed well away from the walls so it becomes difficult for proper inspection.
5. There is no proper drainage system and there and no adequate provisions for disposal of refuse. The Workers (Food Handlers) working in processing and preparation were not using any aprons, hand gloves, and head wears. All food articles that are stored or are intended for sale have no proper cover to avoid contamination. Drinking water is not safe because they have no provisions to filter the water.
6. They are applying detergent powder instead of dish-wash powder for cleaning utensil. No proper Licence under Food Safety and Standards Act. 2006.