Food Safety Department raids Asansol, allegations of irregularities in multiple hotels and restaurants
Asansol, August 28: There have been long-standing allegations of playing with the health and lives of common people. Based on these complaints, officials of the Food Safety Department conducted a simultaneous raid on various hotels, restaurants, and renowned sweet shops in Asansol on Friday to inspect food quality, safety, and strict hygiene protocols. Alongside the food safety wing of the district health and family welfare department, the local police administration also actively participated in this sudden raid. This strict monitoring was conducted in about ten small and large hotels, restaurants, and sweet shops, ranging from the areas adjacent to GT Road in the heart of the city to Mahishila, Railpar, and various crowded markets.
During this sudden raid, officials came across one sensational irregularity after another. Many establishments lacked valid food licenses mandated by the state or central government. In some places, the owners failed to produce necessary documents regarding water licenses or water test reports as per the law. The most alarming matter was that several sweet shops had stored long-expired sweets, as well as outdated packets of chhena and curd in refrigerators for the purpose of sale. Departmental officials stated that since these food items had developed fungus, they were extremely dangerous for public health.
Moreover, the internal condition of the kitchens in a few hotels was even more horrifying. Raw meat was kept uncovered in completely unclean and unhygienic environments. There were also serious allegations of storing vegetables and meat right next to open drains. Officials scrutinized what kind of spices were being used to prepare biryani and various meat dishes in the hotels, and how many times the cooking oil was being reused. During the raid, strong questions were raised regarding the quality of spices mixed with adulterated or substandard colors. Fearing health hazards, the officials immediately directed the respective hotel and shop owners to confiscate those harmful food items and destroy them instantly by burying them in the ground.
Upon investigation, the officials found that from the kitchen to the dining area, there was not even a minimum arrangement for adequate cleanliness. Workers or cooks did not bother to use gloves or head caps. Inspectors expressed intense displeasure upon seeing the absence of basic arrangements like dustbins even in many establishments known to be famous and high-profile.
Later, while speaking to journalists, the officials of the Food Safety Department stated that based on the evidence of serious irregularities and negligence found in today's raid, strict legal action will be taken against the concerned establishments. Along with issuing verbal warnings at the primary stage, the process of sending written notices under specific sections against the guilty owners has already begun. Warnings of stern actions such as canceling licenses have also been issued.
Meanwhile, ahead of the upcoming festive season, this sudden and strict move by the Food Safety Department on multiple hotels, restaurants, and sweet shops in the city has created intense sensation and panic among the business community. Many shopkeepers were even seen hurriedly closing their shops and fleeing upon hearing the news of the raid. However, conscious common citizens and buyers have unanimously praised this initiative by the administration. The Food Safety Department has clearly stated that such raids will be intensified in the future to protect public health, and no compromise with human health will be tolerated under any circumstances. This message from the administration has now become a major warning for food business operators across the entire Asansol industrial belt.
