Hygiene issues in eateries
SHILLONG: Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek said the registration of all shops will be made compulsory in view of health issues. He was replying to a call attention motion moved by Congress MLA Mayralborn Syiem during the Autumn session of the Assembly on Thursday.
Admitting of shortage in manpower, Hek said the department is facing skeletal staff and will rectify the problem not only in Shillong but in other places of the state as well. Hek said that a complaint was received from Lansius Syiemlieh, Quinine, Ri-Bhoi district with the sample of a Jalebi on July 1 this year. The Food Safety officer was instructed to visit the restaurant of Shiv Prakash Joshi (owner of M/S Amit Restaurant, Nongpoh).
He said that the Food Safety Officer inspected the premises and sent the sampled Jalebi brought by the complainant to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Center North Eastern Region, Umiam for confirmation of the presence of an insect. During inspection of the premises of M/S Amit Restaurant, Nongpoh by the Food Safety Officer, many anomalies were reported which may be the reason for which such incident might have happened.
On receipt of the inspection report from the Food Safety officer and confirmation of the presence of body parts of insect embedded in the Jalebi, the designated officer, Ri-Bhoi issued Improvement Notice under Section 32 of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 including the measures to be taken by Shiv Prasad Joshi within a given time.
Hek informed that in view of the negligence of the owner of the restaurant and failing to manufacture and sale of safe food to the consumers, the designated officer directed the immediate closure of the shop for 14 days with effect from July 4.
The owner of the restaurant appealed for further extension of the days for compliance by another 60 days to renovate the whole kitchen, store- room and eating area. In case the owner of the restaurant does not comply within the given time a case under section 59 (i) of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006 will be filed for non-compliance.
The 60-day time extended ends on September 23. Speaking at the call attention motion, Congress MLA Mayralborn Syiem said there should be regular checking of restaurants/dhabas and those eateries that do not fulfill the food safety norms should be cancelled.
He said that the manpower of the Food and Safety department should be strengthened and said there is only one food and safety officer in Ri-Bhoi and there is no other staff. He also added that there should be field staff to monitor day-to-day activities.