Authorities have raided and seized spoiled vegetarian and non-vegetarian food found in Coimbatore restaurants.
Coimbatore: Food safety officials conducted a raid on shops selling 'chicken shawarma' in Coimbatore yesterday.
The spoiled chicken was confiscated and destroyed.
A Kerala girl died after eating in an unhygienic private restaurant in the state of Kerala. Many more fell ill and were treated in hospital.
An investigation by the authorities at the time revealed that spoiled chicken was used to make shawarma. This was followed by inspections of chicken food preparation restaurants across the state of Kerala. Later it was revealed that the dead girl had bacteria from unclean water.
Following this, food safety officials are conducting inspections in various districts across Tamil Nadu. As part of that, food safety officials in the Coimbatore district formed into eight teams and conducted inspections across the district.
Coimbatore VOC park near by shops in the evenings, 'Chicken Shawarma' on sale at stores last evening, Led by Food Security Officer Tamilselvan, the officers conducted the inspection.
While insoecting two hotels, 'Denmark' and 'The Majestic', spoiled chicken was confiscated and destroyed. As well as spoiled gravy, chopsticks collected from spoiled biryani, dried Idiyappam were also confiscated and destroyed.
Chicken samples have been collected from these stores and sent for analysis. Also, notice has been issued to the shop owners.
Food Safety Officer Tamilchelvan said:-
In Coimbatore, not only chicken shawarma but also a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes are processed in restaurants. Especially when it was half-fried and processed for frying.
Also, the old biryani and pizza were kept in the freezer on refrigerator as well as preparing the required amount of ginger garlic paste for about 5-days and processing it. It should only be kept for a maximum of 24 hours but most stores keep it for longer days, he said.
He said that not only non-vegetarian but also vegetarian fast food has been found to be processed badly and sold. He also said that notices have been issued to the shops involved in the first phase and restaurants involved in the irregularities have been warned.
On behalf of the Department of Food Security in Coimbatore District, a team of four persons comprising of Food Security Officers from Podanur, Sundarapuram, Kuniyamuthur, Ukkadam, RS Puram, Gandhipuram, Peelamedu, Saravanampatti, Singanallur and Ondipudur in Coimbatore conducted a field inspection under the direction of the District Designated Officer.
Inspected shops: 73
Seized old Savarma: 57.45-kg
Value: Rs.17480/-
Monitoring food samples taken: 3
Notice shops: 35
Penalty for plastic used shops: 3-shops - Rs: 6000/-