Kathmandu. A joint team of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control found that the canteens inside the Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital and the Ayurvedic Hospital at Naradevi were found to have no food hygiene.

The team also found deficiencies in basic sanitation while inspecting the canteen of Halde Kalika and Canteen of Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital and Naradevi-based Ayurved Hospital in course of regular monitoring. According to food technologists Anil Basnet and Ashok Parajuli, food hygiene has not been paid to the sensitive areas where food is prepared for patients, doctors and health workers.

A monitoring team carried out at the canteen of Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in ward no. 12 found negligence in sanitation, mismanaged use of food colours, haphazard storage of food items in the refrigerator, washing utensils near toilet and seven packets of expired milk. Food Inspection Officer Khagendra Prasad Khatiwada, Aastha Adhikari and Saroj Poudel said that the pest control in the canteen of Naradevi-based Ayurvedic Hospital was found not satisfactory, raw and cooked goods were stored in a single place, the cooking and utensils were found close to the storage area, the cooked food items were kept open and the use of refrigerator was found to be unsystematic.

After the inspection, the team has strictly directed the canteen operators to operate the service in accordance with the hygiene and food safety standards. Directives have been issued to cover food items, control pest effectively, use only labeled and permitted industry products, not sell expired products, separate toilet and wash utensils, keep fire safety equipment and make price list public.

It has also warned of action as per the law if the directive is not followed. The KMC has continued monitoring regularly to ensure that food business is operated in a clean, safe and legal manner.