The Health and Food Department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has taken stringent action against three hotel and restaurant operators in the state for flouting guidelines.
Hotel Dev Palace, Chetak Chivda and Gajanand Pauva House were sealed indefinitely for running food centres without adequate hygienic conditions, registration and for violating Schedule 4 norms. Schedule 4 is food businesses’ compliance with Good Hygiene Practices (GHP). According to Fssai.gov.in, Schedule 4 includes strengthening food hygiene and sanitation practices, preventing transmission of Covid-19 and taking measures to protect food handlers from contracting the virus.
The Vibes of India has learnt that worms were found in the panner served by Hotel Dev Palace, while Chetak Chivda and Gajanand Poha House didn’t even have proper licencing and permits to run their food joints. Chetak Chivda hadn’t been following hygiene norms.
Furthermore, samples of Fafda-Jalebi, the most sought-after tangy and sweet combination in Gujarati cuisine, were collected from 27 food establishments, suspected of endangering public health, and sent for testing.
In all, 34 hotels have been served notices for violating food safety standards and hygiene regulations. Rs 1.13 lakh has been collected from hotels failing to cater to food regulations.
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s health officer Dr Bhavin Joshi told VOI that action had been taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. For instance, the oil issued in food times was tested on parameters like TPC (Total Polar Compound). According to Section 8 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011: “TPC in unused or fresh vegetable oil or fat shall not be more than 15%. Used vegetable oil or fat having developed TPCs more than 25% shall not be used.”
Additionally, they were assessed on clean shared spaces, sanitation (especially in the kitchen), handwashing practices, initiatives to prevent foodborne illness and appropriate uniforms. Joshi has said that after the reports are out, appropriate action will be taken against the hotels that put public health at risk.
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