Kolkata, Sept. 8 -- The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has suspended the FSSAI licences of 40 food establishments following inspections that found "serious hygiene and food-safety violations", Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Smita Pandey said on Tuesday.
Among the establishments are Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick, Girish Chandra Dey & Co, Kareem's and Don Giovannis, besides Dada Boudi Hotel, Golden Gate and several sweet shops and eateries.
The licences have been suspended under Section 32 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, Pandey said. The establishments will remain shut until they submit compliance reports to KMC. Their licences can be considered for restoration after corrective measures and compliance with prescribed food-safety and hygiene standards.
However, certain establishments, including Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick, said they had not received the suspension notice. Pandey said notices were served and will be served again if it has not reached.
Poor hygiene was the major concern, she said. At Balaram Mullick, inspectors found uncovered food, inadequate freezer temperature visibility and no records of medical examinations of food handlers or disposal of used cooking oil. Girish Chandra Dey & Co had an unhygienic manufacturing area, she said.
Kareem's and Don Giovannis were found in violation of Schedule 4 hygiene requirements, while other establishments faced action over pest activity, expired food, poor storage and unhygienic processing areas. Pandey said 1,224kg of non-conforming food items were destroyed, 161 samples collected and notices issued to 112 entities.
Asked how officers assessed cooked food without laboratory reports, Pandey said it "stank". Raw ingredients were also found with fungal growth, she said. KMC will conduct another food-safety drive before Durga Puja, Pandey added.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.