No more complaints on quality of meals
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 30 2020: There are no more complaints on the quality of meals provided at COVID Care Centres (CCCs) opened in Imphal West District following strict monitoring under the Additional Food Safety Commissioner.

Sometime back there were many complaints of serving sub-standard meals and unhygienic food items at CCCs opened by the State Government.

Directorate of Health Services, Additional Food Safety Commissioner T Brojendro told The Sangai Express that the State Government opened CCCs at Lamboi Khongnangkhong, UNACCO School and RD Wing in Imphal West district, as a part of the several measures it took up to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

As there were many complaints of serving expired or unhygienic food items at these CCCs, surprise visits were made to these CCCs once in a week to check the quality of meals served there.

Subsequent upon introduction of these surprise visits, quality meals are now served to all the inmates of these CCCs, Brojendro claimed.

He said that they first went inside kitchens and checked whether rice, vegetables etc were fresh and properly stored.

Next, they observed whether the cooks maintained personal hygiene and cooked the meals in a clean and hygienic environment.

It was also checked whether the cooked food items were carried in clean containers in hygienic manner, Brojendro said.

As per the Food Safety and Standard Act of India, it is mandatory to print the manufacturing date and date of expiry while packaging any food item.

Whether the manufacturing unit is big or small, it is mandatory for all the units to follow the packaging and labelling regulations, said the Additional Food Safety Commissioner.

There are many food items manufactured and sold in Manipur with a piece of paper inserted inside the packets.

This practice started around 2015 when most people were not fully aware about the packaging and labelling regulations but this practice is illegal, Brojendro said.

Necessary steps would be initiated in consultation with the higher authorities to change this system of packing eatables, he added.

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