Raids On Food Vendors Ahead Of Dussehra In Cuttack; Drive On In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: After conducting raids on sweet shops, the food inspection squad of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) targeted vendors, roadside eateries and fast food joints on Friday.

In view of Dussehra, when people like to eat out, the CMC carried out raids to ensure health security of the consumers. During the raids, the vendors were found flouting food safety and sanitation norms even after being warned around two months ago.

The squad found that the vendors were selling stale and sour ‘Dahibara’, the Millennium City’s famous delicacy. The fast food stalls were serving stale chowmein and using duplicate sauce along with food colours.

“The vendors are committing three major mistakes during the sale of food. They are using a lot of food colours beyond permissible limit and serving the water from unhygienic source. They are not maintaining basic sanitation norms such as using hand sanitiser and wearing head caps,” CMC food inspection squad official told media.

Only two vendors in the city had the food registration licence. “If others do not apply for the registration licence within seven days of notice, their food stalls will be closed,” she added.

It is pertinent to mention that the drive was carried out on sweet shops on September 8 to verify use of artificial colours, chemical additives and stale ingredients. Many shops, stalls and kiosks, which were found violating the food safety guidelines, were closed down by the squad.

Notably, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has formed four squads to crack down the food joints in Odisha capital soon.

BMC Commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange said enforcement activities will be intensified to ensure every food vendor and hotel owner follows food safety and licence norms.

“As there will be huge demand for sweets and street food during the festive season, our food safety officers have been asked to carry out enforcement activities in advance,” Kulange told media.

Also Read: Ahead Of Dussehra, CMC Launches Drive To Inspect Sweet Stops In Cuttack – odishabytes