The Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s food safety drive in Park Street found one paneer sample that failed to meet prescribed standards, while inspectors also ordered the destruction of around 20 kilograms of undated prepared gravy stored in a refrigerator. The action came during a special inspection and awareness campaign ahead of Durga Puja.
The KMC food safety team carried out the campaign in Ward 63 under Borough VII, covering restaurants, sweet shops and street food vendors in Park Street, Anindilal Poddar Sarani, formerly Russell Street, and Middleton Street. The inspection involved the mobile Food Safety on Wheels vehicle and food analysts.
According to the report, officials inspected 27 food establishments and tested 40 samples on the spot. One paneer sample was found not to conform to the prescribed standards. The concerned food business operator destroyed approximately two kilograms of the remaining paneer at the site.
The team also found around 20 kilograms of prepared gravy in a refrigerator without date markings. The gravy was destroyed, and the concerned food business operator was issued a notice under Section 38 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The operator was directed to correct the deficiencies within seven days.
The inspection found that most establishments had valid FSSAI licences, labelled packaged food and better personal hygiene practices, the report said. However, inspectors identified gaps at some outlets, including the absence of lids and liners on dustbins and inadequate covering of food items.
Officials advised food handlers to use clean aprons, gloves and head covers, mark dates on prepared food, clean utensils properly and avoid repeatedly reheating used cooking oil. These measures were communicated during 27 awareness sessions held as part of the campaign, with around 80 people participating.
The KMC team also distributed food safety awareness leaflets to vendors and local residents. The campaign combined on-site testing with compliance instructions, placing responsibility on food businesses to correct storage, hygiene and waste-handling practices before the seven-day deadline issued to the notified operator.
The inspection was conducted ahead of Durga Puja, a period when food businesses in Kolkata typically face heightened public attention and demand. The next formal step identified in the report is the correction of deficiencies within seven days by the operator who received the notice.
