Siliguri, 30th May: In a continued crackdown following recent food safety concerns in the city, the Darjeeling District Food Safety Department, along with teams from the Municipal Corporation, Enforcement Branch, and Fire Department, conducted inspections at multiple eateries across Siliguri on Friday.
During the inspection, a large quantity of stale food was recovered from a restaurant near Bidhan Market. Items such as pulao, biryani, vegetables, and dal were found stored in a refrigerator, allegedly intended for serving to customers. In response, officials immediately removed the food and issued a notice to the restaurant owner.
This action follows public outrage over previous incidents, including worms found in biryani and food being stored in a toilet area at another eatery. The Food Safety Department has now intensified its monitoring of hygiene and food quality in restaurants and fast food joints.
In defence, the restaurant owner claimed the food was only a day old and argued that most establishments in the city store unsold food to avoid losses. However, authorities have stated that the matter is being taken seriously and that further action will be taken if necessary. Additional hygiene-related guidelines have also been issued to local food businesses.