BMC squads collect unsafe items for testing, dump stale food in raids at eateries

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) food safety squad has collected samples of suspected unsafe items for testing during two-day-long raids conducted at roadside eateries, restaurants, hotels, juice and fruit stalls and savouries’ manufacturing units. The squad also got rid of close to half a quintal of substandard and stale food made with artificial colour.

“The weather is changing constantly these days - sometimes it is scorching heat and sometimes it rains and there’s a drop in temperature. Thus, we are alert about the food being served to people in hotels, restaurants and the eateries and right from the water quality to the materials being used in cooking and storage facilities are being checked. Three teams are working in three zones to see if the food being served to customers meets basic safety norms,” BMC deputy commissioner (health), Rashmirekha Amat, said.

Satyajit Patel, BMC’s designated food safety officer, said they are checking the fruit juice stalls because they received complaints regarding preservatives and chemical colours being used. “Laboratory tests will confirm if the food contains artificial colour. Despite generating awareness, shops are selling stale food and using artificial colour,” Patel added.

BMC officials said the mobile food safety laboratory and the sanitation and hygiene inspection for neat environment (SHINE) teams and the food enforcement squads are conducting joint inspections.

Patel said in the coming days kiosks selling fast food items will also be inspected. “Some local and popular delicacies are also stored even though they should be served fresh. If our team comes across such food, it will be binned,” he added.

BMC officials said the eateries usually mix the leftover food with freshly prepared meals the next day, which may cause health issues. Some eateries also serve stale food.

The BMC teams also plan to generate awareness among roadside eateries before monsoon since such food in the rainy season can cause diarrhoea and dysentery.