Hygiene-centric: Restaurants ‘selling diseases’ to foodies

Tourists complain of absence of food inspection and complaint system.

ISLAMABAD:

A large number of tourists from across the country visiting Murree and its adjacent areas have complained of sub-standard food items being sold at roadside stalls and restaurants, spreading diseases among the public. A visit to the restaurants and food stalls in Patriata, Gilyat, Nathia Gali, Bhurban and Murree revealed the magnitude of the problem.

From tableware, the ingredients used in preparing food, to the drinking water served to diners, restaurants and stalls are indeed found “selling diseases” to customers. The use of stale meat and vegetables, degenerated cooking oil and excessive amounts of chillies in food is common, making people prone to gastrointestinal problems like ulcers and piles and even cardiovascular problems.

Ahmad Khan, a tourist from Islamabad visiting Murree with his family, said, “It seems like none of the staffers, including cooks, waiters, dishwashers, and even managers are aware of a thing called hygiene.” He said that kitchens in a majority of restaurants are dirty and adopt no safety measures to protect food items from insects or the elements.

Muhammad Ashfaq, a visitor from Lahore, said that hundreds of thousands of people eat sub-standard food at these restaurants every year and many of them fall ill, but these restaurants are not taking any step to improve their standards. Another tourist from Rawalpindi, Khurram Bhatti, said that besides the low quality, food prices in Murree and adjacent areas are also very high and unaffordable for the poor and middle-income families. He said that a regular food inspection system should be put in place under which visitors can lodge their complaints.

An official of Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) said that the administration has staff on duty to entertain complaints regarding the sale of sub-standard food items and urged people to lodge complaints for prompt action. However, he accepted that the sale of sub-standard food by restaurants and stallholders usually goes by unnoticed by TMA staff during the holidays.



Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2011.