Punjab

CCB eateries cause illnesses

Hotels, bakeries, sweet shops flout food safety laws

Jamil Mirza December 07, 2023

a sign reading quot no bread quot is displayed at a bakery in caracas on february 25 2016 as record shortages of basic goods runaway inflation and an escalating economic crisis cripple businesses photo afp

A sign reading "No Bread" is displayed at a bakery in Caracas on February 25, 2016 as record shortages of basic goods, runaway inflation and an escalating economic crisis cripple businesses PHOTO: AFP

RAWALPINDI:

The hotels, bakeries, sweet shops and street vendors selling food items in various markets of the Chaklala Cantonment Board (CCB) have become the hub of spreading illnesses among the public as most of these eateries have made it a habit of brazenly flouting the food safety regulations by ignoring the hygiene standards.

According to details, as per the Cantonment Act, any food centre in Cantt areas where food is prepared and sold must have a high standard of kitchen cleanliness, ventilated environment, thorough physical hygiene of working personnel and proper vaccination against hepatitis and other diseases. It is also necessary for the eateries to ensure that the food, drink, sweets, fast food or curries they prepare are fully in accordance with the requirements of hygiene rules, otherwise, such food items become a cause of spreading diseases.

However, according to sources, the standards of hygiene and medical fitness of the personnel involved in the preparation of food items in the hotels, bakeries and fast food centres in CCB areas, including Marrir Hassan, Jhanda Chichi, Chaklala Scheme-3, Gulistan Colony, Dheri Hasanabad, Lal Kurti, Lala Zar and other areas have been completed ignored and these centres are spreading diseases among the citizens day and night.

Read: Call to promote safe food practices

The CCB’s Food Department seems to have completely failed in discharging its responsibilities to ensure strict implementation of the relevant laws.

According to sources, enforcement action is completed by issuing notices or challans to a few food centres.

It should be noted that under the Cantonment Act, it has been directed to strictly ensure the cleanliness of the food processing areas and the medical fitness of the personnel. However, in practice, lack of cleanliness in the kitchens of food centres, dirty clothes, untidy hair, overgrown nails and dirty teeth of the food personnel present a frightening sight.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 7^th, 2023.