Authorities crackdown on Bandipora eateries selling unhygienic food

Bandipora, Aug 8: The Food Safety department officials, accompanied by Municipal Council, police and revenue officials, on Friday conducted a surprise market checking drive to inspect the quality of food being served in eateries.

The market checking in the Bandipora division of the district saw officials crack down on eateries, hotels, and some restaurants, warning them about maintaining safety and hygiene concerning public health. The officials also disposed off around five dozen Kebabs from one eatery, which were found lacking standards of consumption.

“To be precise, around 55 Kababs which were machine-made were seized in the drive,” District Food Safety Officer Zahoor Ahmad told Greater Kashmir.

The Tehsildar and other officials also strictly warned the owners of the eateries to follow proper laws for the sale and purchase of meat to clear public doubts.

The Traders’ President, Ali Mohammad Hajam, also hailed the drive and advised the owners of eateries to follow proper safety standards. “It is a health concern and these people should cooperate with the departments,” he said. “Wherever food safety officials suspect food is adulterated or unhygienic, action must be taken,” he added.

Meanwhile, the concern raised by locals and officials over the “rotten rice” being delivered to the Food Corporation of India depot at Shilvat, Sumbal has been taken note of.

Notably, on Thursday, officials, locals, and drivers stopped the unloading of the trucks delivering rice after “webbing and insects” were found in rice. “There are around twelve trucks which are halted at the location that had arrived with the rice from Punjab,” the District Food Safety Officer said.

He said the FCI depot officials have received directions from higher authorities in Punjab to unload the trucks. “The unloading will take two days, following which the sampling will be done,” the officer said. On the allegations of rotten and insect-infested rice, he said further action can be taken once the “lab opinion is out”. “After the unloading, sampling will be conducted,” he assured.