Cockroaches, rotten food, open bins: 4 Bhopal restaurants fail safety checks

The inspections were carried out at The Celestial Park, Ranjit Resort, Guru Kripa Food and Caterers and Amanate Restaurant. Food samples were collected for testing, while unsafe and spoiled food items were destroyed on the spot.

In Short

• Guru Kripa Food and Caterers had severe filth, broken tiles, expired food
• The Celestial Park had rotten onions, expired seasoning; samples taken for testing
• Ranjit Resort faced drainage problems, dirty utensils

Surprise inspections at four restaurants in Bhopal found cockroaches roaming in a kitchen, rotten and expired food, open dustbins, dirty utensils and other hygiene lapses, prompting the Food Safety Department to issue Improvement Notices to the establishments.

The inspections were carried out at The Celestial Park, Ranjit Resort, Guru Kripa Food and Caterers and Amanate Restaurant.

The most serious lapses were reported at Guru Kripa Food and Caterers, where inspectors found excessive filth around the kitchen, open dustbins, broken tiles and a poor drainage system.

Cockroaches were found roaming around the kitchen, while sanitation measures around food items were also found to be inadequate.

Several expired food packets were found at the establishment. The department collected a paneer sample for testing and recommended suspension of the outlet's food licence.

At The Celestial Park, inspectors found an expired packet of mixed seasoning and approximately 20 kg of rotten onions, which were destroyed on the spot.

Open dustbins and unsanitary pans were also found in the kitchen. The medical fitness documents of employees were not available. Two samples, of moong dal and cashews, were collected for testing.

At the Ranjit Resort, inspectors found a faulty kitchen drainage system and dirty utensils. Dustbins were also kept in the open.

The establishment did not have the required training and medical fitness certificates of employees available for inspection.

While the Amanate Restaurant was found to be relatively clean, with employees wearing proper attire, the establishment, however, did not have medical fitness and pest-control documents available.

Inspectors detected a mild odour in dal makhani stored in the freezer, following which the food was destroyed on the spot.

Three samples — moong dal, toor dal and flour — were collected from Amanate Restaurant.

A total of six food samples were collected from the four establishments for testing. The Food Safety Department said further action would be taken according to regulations after the test reports are received.

The establishments have also been directed to maintain kitchen hygiene, ensure safe storage of food, keep expired products separately and maintain proper medical and training records for employees.

Food Safety Officer Shivraj Pavak said the department was regularly conducting surprise inspections at hotels and restaurants. He said action was taken when kitchens were found to be unsanitary and food items that did not meet safety standards were destroyed.

The inspections in Bhopal are the latest in a series of food safety raids being conducted at food establishments across major cities, with authorities stepping up checks on kitchen hygiene, food storage and compliance with safety requirements.

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(Inputs by Dharmendra Sahu)