Tripura: Cockroaches allays concern for food safety amid corona pandemic

A joint visit of Food Safety officials in collaboration with West Tripura district administration revealed that as to how the sweet shops of Agartala city were feeding people unhygienic and rotten foods which were laid exposed to the access of insects in the storehouses.

A joint raid was conducted at Joy Gopal Mistanna Bhandar located in the hearts of Agartala city and the administration sealed off the shop after slapping a show-cause notice seeking clarification from them regarding the lapses found at its storehouse.

Also read: Tripura: COVID strike in land port as trans-border trade to remain close till Jun 12

During the joint raid, the officials found that the dough used to make several sweet items including most sold “Rasagulla” were left in open. Some of the materials had already rotten up. The DCM Sadar Animesh Dhar who led the raid however pointed out that most of the materials were stacked in an unscientific way—some of the ingredients were stockpiled just in front of the toilet which was also apparently not cleaned for long. Cockroaches and rats had been seen running in a rush all throughout the floors and roofs of the cooking room.

“We have initiated a joint raid in collaboration with the food safety team here in Joy Gopal Mistanna Bhander’s storehouse located at a stone’s throw distance from the shop (Near Loknath temple). We have seen as to how things are exposed to the insects and hygiene of the cooking room is not maintained scientifically. The objective of the raid is to ascertain as to what extent the quality of food is being maintained. We are going to seal the shop and slap notices seeking clarification”, the DCM Sadar Animesh Dhar said.

Dhar and team also threatened another adjoining sweet shop—Sherowali sweets. According to Dhar, the situation in Sherowali sweets ware house was not up to the mark but still they had maintained some rules as per the food safety guidelines. “We have also asked Sherowali sweets to upgrade their system and by a week a routine visit will be paid to see whether the prescribed changes are made or not”, said DCM Dhar. 

Readers like you make Inside Northeast’s work possible.

To support our brand of fearless and investigative journalism, support us HERE.

Download:

The Inside Northeast app HERE for News, Views, and Reviews from Northeast India.

Do keep following us for news on-the-go. We deliver the Northeast.