Food inspectors raid 110 momo outlets after woman's death

Hyderabad:Following the death of a woman after eating momos from a stall, and many others falling sick, officials checked about 110 food establishments preparing momos and collected 69 samples for analysis.

The vendor who had sold the momos, WOW Hot Momos/Delhi Hot Momos at Chintalbasti in Khairatabad, was running the outlet without an FSSAI licence and food was being prepared in unhygienic conditions. Food safety officials visited the hospitals where those affected had been admitted, and asked the doctors to carry out necessary medical evaluations to confirm food poisoning. The food outlet has been closed after collecting samples for analysis.

In separate state-level incidents, popular Chinese restaurant Nanking at Parklane, Secunderabad was inspected. The establishment had unhygienic refrigerators with broken doors. Raw and cooked food items were stored together. Kitchen floor, walls and ceiling were found to be dirty with paint flakes peeling off them. The FSSAI license was not displayed at a prominent place in the establishment.

Dustbins were uncovered and houseflies were found all over the kitchen at Nanking. Open drains were running through the kitchen. A few food handlers were found without hairnets, aprons and gloves. The restaurant also did not have a FoSTaC Trainee, medical fitness certificates of food handlers, water analysis reports and pest control records.

Officials also inspected MNR Medical College Canteen in Sangareddy. Similar violations were observed such as no proper storage of raw material, unclean kitchen without proper lighting in kitchen and storage. Vegetarian and non-vegetarian items were stored together under temperature control.

The inspectors found six expired food products and unlabelled food items. Medical fitness certificates for food handlers, water analysis reports and pest control records were also not available.