No check on hygiene at eating joints in city

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 27

Health Department officials fail to collect food samples from eating joints for quality test on a regular basis in the city. But, the authorities have turned a blind towards hygiene at the joints situated in the walled city.

Pawandeep Sharma, a social activist, said, “Hardly any employee of eateries follows the norms. At the same time, the authorities do not take pain to give them tips to maintain hygienic. Most of them reuse the oil and ghee for preparing food items such as ‘puri’, samosa, kachori and other traditional snacks. ‘Puri’ is a popular meal in the breakfast and people here prefer to serve these to their guests.”

Jagmit Singh, another resident, said, “Almost all shops in the city have their kitchens outside their premises despite having adequate space inside. Snacks are cooked in the open.”

Dr Charanjit Singh, District Health Officer, said his office covered the entire district and raids were conducted at eating outlets to keep a check on the quality of food being served to people.

He said they would frequently cover eating outlets in the walled city.

“On Wednesday, food samples were taken from eating joints in the border areas of Lokoke and Attari. Besides, food samples were also collected from the Heritage club,” he added.