Fowl-ed taste: KMC finds formalin soaked chicken in New Market
20 March 2018 5:40 PM GMT
Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has started its drive for checking the quality of chicken used at eateries across the city by paying surprise visits to some hotels in Ultadanga area and the chicken market at New Market in Central Kolkata.
Food safety officers of the civic body stumbled upon dead chicken ready for supply in New Market area and immediately confiscated the stuff.
The drive of the KMC came in the wake of complaints about dead chicken being supplied to the city from Baduria in North 24 Parganas that has nearly 12000 poultries
"We have collected samples of cooked and raw meat from the hotels in Ultadanga and raw meat from New Market and have sent it for examination at our central laboratory.
This test will reveal if chemicals like formalin is being used for preservation of chicken as it may cause health hazards," a food safety officer who took part in the drive said.
"If irregularities are found with the eateries that are registered with the civic body action will be taken as per law on violations on Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act. In case of roadside eateries, we will lodge complaint with the Enforcement Branch of Kolkata Police urging them to take action under Section 272 and 273 of Indian Penal Code," Member Mayor in Council (health) Atin Ghosh said. The reports of the test will be available in a week.
It may be mentioned that during Tuesday's drive, the food safety officers found out that unpermitted colours are being used in spices to give a reddish colour to chicken curry or chicken kasha. "The consumption of the dish prepared with the use of these colours can cause serious health hazards. We will take action against these eateries for violation of FSSAI standards," the official said.
The drive that kicked off on Tuesday will be conducted on a regular basis. The Baduria police have recently unearthed a racket involved in illegal supply of dead
chicken to eateries.
The police raid in Baduria was conducted after sanitary inspector of Baduria Municipality Tanay Kanti Roy lodged a complaint with the police alleging that dead chicken was supplied to eateries in Kolkata.
The Baduria police are investigating allegations that for the last few months there has been supply of dead chicken after putting formalin on the stuff from
poultry farms situated at Anarpur, Mathabhanga and Taragunia areas.
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