DIMAPUR, July 24 - A team of Health and Food Safety Officers, led by the State Food Safety Programme Officer Dr Akou Sorhie and Kohima Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Ritu Thur, inspected bakeries, restaurant kitchens and ice cream manufacturing units in Dimapur and Kohima on Monday.
According to reports, the health authorities served a notice of suspension of trade licence on a leading baking unit in Kohima � Popular Bakery � for failing to improve hygiene standards despite the issue of a previous notice to this effect. The health authorities in Kohima had served a notice to the baking unit on June 21 to improve its kitchen hygiene.
However, sources said the baking unit failed to fulfil the criteria as laid down in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. In a release, the Kohima CMO said the bakery still lacked proper hygienic storage and baking practices.
The food safety team also checked the kitchen of Paradise Restaurant in the capital town and issued a notice for improvement. Samples of the food items were taken for testing, the sources added.
The health official said the authorities would recommend invalidation of trade licences of food units if they fail to comply with the order for improvement.
Meanwhile, Dimapur Chief Medical Officer Vikato Kinimi and a team of food safety officials carried out inspections at Breeze Bakery and Popsicle ice cream factory here on Monday.
Commissioner and Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department Himato Zhimomi stated that the proprietors of the two establishments have been directed to improve their hygiene standards.
On July 21, the health authorities ordered one of Dimapur�s oldest bakeries and an ice cream factory to shut down for improvement due to the unhygienic conditions in which they were operating. This followed inspection of the food units by food safety officers and members of the Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries and the Naga Council of Dimapur.
Food safety teams of the Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Department have been conducting surprise inspection of confectioneries and food joints in Kohima and Dimapur since last week to ascertain whether these joints follow the regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
