The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) on Tuesday provided stickers to eateries in the presence of representatives from local administration, media persons and local people. [break]
An inspection team of DFTQC distributed stickers, which indicate the level of food quality and service of eateries, to 32 eateries in Malekhu area. Of these eateries, 29 have been rated as medium standard. Remaining three have been rated worst in terms of food hygiene, physical facilities, registration or renewal status, building, parking facility and ambience.
On the basis of these criteria, the department provided green, yellow with a red mark, yellow with two red marks and red stickers to the eateries.
According to officials, the green sticker denotes that the eateries are providing quality food and services. Similarly, red stickers have been given to those eateries that don´t meet the required criteria and hence need to be closed.
“Eateries will be evaluated by customers themselves. Customers will visit only the eateries that provide quality food, maintain good hygiene and have other necessary facilities,” Bed Prasad Kharel, CDO of Dhading, who is also a member of the inspection team, said.
Six months ago, the department provided stickers to eateries in Mugling - another major stopover on the Prithvi Highway.
Meanwhile, the department has formed Food Hygiene Concern Group, a local watchdog to monitor the quality of food and service, in Malekhu area. The group, which also includes two police personnel from a local police unit, will monitor the eateries once a week and forward report to the department.
Jeevan Prabha Lama, director general of DFTQC, said the campaign to upgrade quality of food and service in eateries along major highways has been launched with the objective of raising awareness among eateries regarding service delivery rather than punishing them.
“We can´t ensure that customers are served hygienic food without cooperation of people running the eateries. That is why we are trying to involve them in the campaign,” said Lama.
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