KMC closes canteen at Om Hospital for 7 days

लगानी न्यूज

१८ कार्तिक २०८२, मंगलवार १३:५३November 4, 2025

. KATHMANDU: A joint team of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has carried out monitoring of food hygiene in canteens of various hospitals in Kathmandu. The canteen of Om Hospital in Chabahil was closed for 7 days after it was found to be negligent in cleanliness.

The canteen, which is being operated by Healthy Bytes Services Pvt Ltd, was found to be using food items without label details, including the use of expired consumables, unhygienic environment, unsatisfactory pest control system and food items without label details.TAG_OPEN_div_24 According to Anil Basnet and Ashok Parajuli, food technology managers of the monitoring team, the canteen operators have not even registered their business and they have been directed to report to the metropolis with clarification.

During the monitoring, five expired milk units (500 millimeters) were destroyed in the presence of the operator.TAG_OPEN_div_22 Administrative manager of Om Hospital and Research Center Pvt Ltd Bipin Jangam said, “Now the canteen operator has been changed. We will resume the operation only after repairing, painting and cleaning the structures are completed and food hygiene is ensured. ’

According to Khagendra Prasad Khatiwada and Sanjaya Chaudhary, food inspection officers at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, the health condition of the canteen at Medicare Hospital and the canteen at Helping Hands Hospital is comparatively better.TAG_OPEN_div_20 However, the system of pest control in both the canteens is not satisfactory.

The use of labelless food in Medicare hospital canteens, open dustbins and drinking water testing were found to be within the ammonia standard, but improvements were needed.TAG_OPEN_div_18 The monitoring team had directed the canteen operators to make pest control effective, use only processed food items with full label, use only products produced from licensed industries, install fire risk mitigation equipment and separate the cooking and utensils for washing utensils.

Similarly, although personal hygiene in the canteen of Helping Hands Hospital appears satisfactory, proper use of food colours, sale of only licensed food items and strengthening fire risk mitigation equipment have been suggested.TAG_OPEN_div_16

The KMC and the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control have been regularly monitoring hospitals, hotels, restaurants and canteens to ensure clean, responsible and safe food business as per the law.TAG_OPEN_div_14