Three food establishments in Chattogram fined Tk 10 lakh for unhygienic food

The Pure Food Court in Chattogram city has fined three food establishments a total of 10 lakh taka for producing food in unhygienic conditions, using expired ingredients and other irregularities in food products.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafa of the court imposed the fines after conducting summary trial proceedings on Saturday (7 November). The fined establishments are Phulkali Bread and Biscuit Industries Limited, Shopping Bag Super Shop and Kahwa Cafe.

At Phulkali Bread and Biscuit Industries Limited, evidence was found of using butter without label and expiry date in food production, polythene and dirt in dalda, flies and cockroaches roaming the production area, and using burnt oil to make chanachur and motorbhaja. Dirt was also found in the dies and dough used to make cakes and bread, and food products were being marketed without quality control.

For these offences, the establishment was fined six lakh taka under Section 58 of the Safe Food Act, 2013. In default, seven days' imprisonment was ordered.

At Shopping Bag Super Shop, evidence was found of preparing mezban in unhygienic conditions, dirt in cooking oil, imported food without proper labelling, rat poison kept beside food products, and storing rotten chillies. A worker suffering from scabies was also being used to prepare spices.

For these irregularities, the establishment was fined three lakh taka, with seven days' simple imprisonment in default. It was also ordered to appear in person before the court on 15 November with proof that the meat pots for mezban have been moved away from the area where children's toys are sold.

At Kahwa Cafe, evidence was found of a chicken nail on a cake, expired and dirty dough, an open dirty dustbin, expired baklava and storing rotten beetroot. The establishment was fined one lakh taka under Section 19 of the Bangladesh Hotels and Restaurants Act, 2014, for selling mango flavour drinks as mango drinks. In default, seven days' simple imprisonment was ordered.

Mohammad Farhan Islam, metropolitan safe food officer of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, said the drive found the use of butter without expiry date and label, production of food in burnt oil, the presence of flies and cockroaches, and food preparation in unclean conditions at Phulkali Bread and Biscuit Industries.

He said mezban was being prepared in unhygienic conditions at Shopping Bag Super Shop, rat poison was kept beside food products, rotten chillies were stored, and spices were being prepared by an unwell worker.

He added that at Kahwa Cafe, a chicken nail on a cake, expired ingredients and rotten beetroot were found, along with the sale of mango flavour drinks as mango drinks. Legal action has been taken against the establishments concerned for these offences.