With the festive season just around the corner, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Food Safety Department have stepped up enforcement, launching a massive surprise crackdown on various hotels and restaurants across the capital city.
Targeting popular food hubs in the Patia and KIIT areas, the joint enforcement squad conducted extensive inspections of commercial kitchens to ensure public safety and hygiene compliance as customer footfall surges for the upcoming celebrations.
Kitchens Inspected, Stale Food Destroyed
During the surprise raids, officials meticulously inspected kitchen environments, cleanliness standards, and the overall quality of food storage. To the shock of inspectors, large quantities of expired food items and stale food stored over long periods were uncovered.
The substandard and stale goods were immediately confiscated and destroyed on the spot. Restaurant authorities found that hygiene and food safety norms were issued stern warnings by the officials.
Strict Action and Heavy Fines
The civic body and food safety department did not stop at warnings; heavy fines were imposed on establishments found violating safety protocols. Business owners have been strictly instructed to maintain rigorous kitchen sanitation, store raw and cooked materials properly, and serve quality food to consumers.
“There will be no compromise when it comes to public health,” stated a food safety official, adding that similar surprise inspections will continue across the city.
As authorities adopt an aggressive stance to protect consumer health during the peak festive rush, officials have also urged citizens to remain vigilant and cautious while dining out or purchasing food from local eateries.
