SRINAGAR: The Public Health Wing of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has served notices to four popular shops selling food items in the city over poor hygiene.
Dr Shafqat Khan, the health officer of the corporation, shot notices directing the owners of these food joints to improve their sanitary conditions within seven days or else face action under the Food Safety Standard Act.
Dr Khan said: “If these food establishments don’t abide by the law, the action will be taken against them: which means a fine of Rs. 1 Lakh or imprisonment (of owner) including sealing of their premises.”
He said the shops include Shakti Sweets (Residency Road Srinagar), Mughal Darbar Karanagar, Modern Sweets (Residency Road) and Hollywood Bakery (Residency Road).
It may be mentioned that it has become mandatory for workers at the food premises who come under direct contact with eatables to demonstrate “fitness for work” certificate. This, after concern raised by many NGOs and government agencies that people were getting low quality and unhygienic food in the city.
Dr Khan said serving notices is a part of an ongoing food safety audit which the public health wing of the SMC is conducting in the city.
The shops include Shakti Sweets , Mughal Darbar Karanagar, Modern Sweets and Hollywood Bakery.
This programme, he informed, is based on main four points which include cleanliness and hygiene in food establishments, pest and rodent control, uniform and medical and health fitness of the employees.
“We are inspecting hygienic condition of the premises but educating the food operators regarding the Food Safety Act is also necessary. Whenever we have pointed out the problems, owners of eateries have been assuring us that they will take steps. But this time, we have served notices,” Dr Khan said.
He said it has been decided to ban the issuance or renewal of the licenses without production of the fitness certificate to ensure that these food sellers, regardless of the safety precautions they take at work, undergo mandatory medical examination.
