Rajganj, 04th September: The Food Safety Department, block administration and Rajganj Police conducted surprise inspections at several hotels and restaurants in Fatapukur and adjoining areas of Rajganj on Friday. Officials inspected food quality, kitchen hygiene, food storage practices and the required licences and documents.
Rajganj BDO Suvankar Das, Food Safety Department officials and personnel from Rajganj Police were present during the inspection.
During the raid, flies were found hovering over cut vegetables at a hotel, while old food was also found stored in refrigerators at some establishments. Officials also found cooked food and raw food items being stored together and warned hotel staff about proper food storage practices. Some old food items were discarded in the presence of the officials.
Rajganj BDO Suvankar Das said the inspections were being conducted under the leadership of the District Magistrate and on the instructions of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. He said officials were checking food quality, kitchen hygiene, the use of proper kitchen uniforms by staff, expiry dates of food products and storage methods at hotels and restaurants.
Officials instructed establishments to keep vegetarian and non-vegetarian food separately and not to store processed or cooked food together with raw food items. Expiry dates of food products and necessary documents, including FSSAI licences, were also checked during the inspection.
During the inspection, the management of a hotel was unable to produce the required licence. The authorities gave them some time to submit the necessary documents. Officials said action would be taken as per rules if the licence documents are not produced within the stipulated period.
Similar inspections and raids will continue in the coming days to ensure food safety and hygiene standards, officials said.
