Ahmedabad: The health department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) issued an advisory on Wednesday to 11,123 restaurants and food business operators across the city, directing them to install CCTV cameras covering kitchen areas and display the live feed near reception or seating areas, so customers can directly observe cleanliness and hygiene practices.An AMC official said operators must comply with cleanliness and sanitation standards under the Food Safety and Standards Act and FSSAI guidelines, particularly rules covering kitchen hygiene. This include, personal cleanliness of food handlers, segregation of raw and cooked food, safe storage, use of clean water, pest control, proper waste disposal, and regular sanitisation of utensils and equipment.Food must be protected from dust and contamination, only FSSAI-approved colours and ingredients should be used, and cooking oil must be handled correctly. The department warned that legal action would follow any negligence, with repeated or serious violations leading to licence cancellation and sealing of premises. While live CCTV feeds are not legally mandatory, operators have been strongly urged to adopt the practice voluntarily.On Wednesday, AMC sealed several establishments during inspections. Mad Over Grills (Khodiyar Enterprise) in Kankaria was sealed after pests were found in its stored refined flour. Santosh Ghee Bhandar in Madhupura was sealed after an Agmark desi ghee sample tested positive for a compound found in vegetable oils, indicating possible adulteration.Rajesh Dudh Ghar in Kubernagar was sealed after its paneer failed quality tests, while Sabru Chinese Mughlai & Tawa Fry Centre in Sarkhej was shut for unhygienic conditions and for lack of pest control certificate. Samrat Bakery in Behrampura was sealed for operating without a valid licence amid filthy premises, and Bhairavnath Bhojanalay in Rakhial was sealed after its paneer sample failed quality testing.Box: College canteen sealed, schools inspectedThe AMC health department inspected eight school and college canteens, including those at Sattva School, SGVP School, Som-Lalit School, Vedant International School, Narayana Business School, DAV International School, Anand Niketan School, and the LJ Campus canteen. Among these, the Mahatma Gandhi Physiotherapy College Hostel canteen in Saijpur Bogha was sealed for operating without a valid food licence and multiple hygiene violations. Inspectors found insects in food, unhygienic conditions, and missing medical fitness certificates for staff, pest control records, and water quality reports.
