Kathmandu. Kathmandu Metropolitan City Ward No. Food monitoring has been carried out in Basantapur and Indrachowk areas under Ward No. 23 and 24. A joint team of the Department of Agriculture and Livestock and the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control inspected four restaurants and a sweet shop using a mobile laboratory (food monitoring van).

During the monitoring, the quality of wire oil used in four restaurants was checked with the ‘Total Polar Material’ device. A total of 31 liters of non-edible oil, including 22 liters and 9 liters, was destroyed in the presence of businessmen after the oil of the two restaurants was found to be in violation of the standards. Similarly, samples of sweet shops were collected and tested and all sweets were found to be in accordance with the standards.

The team has instructed the businessmen to maintain food hygiene, pay attention to cleanliness, not to use oil frequently, to store vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items separately, to use aprons, hair mesh and masks compulsorily and to run their business in a lawful manner. The Department has pledged to continue such monitoring activities keeping the health and food security of the consumers first priority. It also called upon all businesses to be responsible for maintaining food hygiene and quality.