Prayagraj: The Food Safety and Drug Administration department continued its inspection drive against food establishments in the city on Tuesday, a day after similar checks were carried out and found several food-safety and hygiene lapses at outlets of two prominent pan-India pizza chains. The establishments have been given 14 days to rectify the deficiencies, failing which action will be initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.The inspections were conducted on the directions of divisional commissioner Dr Lokesh M. At an outlet of one of the prominent pizza chains on SP Marg, Civil Lines, inspected on Monday, there was no separate identification and arrangement for utensils used for veg and non-veg food and the ingredients were not segregated properly. Use-by/discard-date food items were not being disposed of on time.Kitchen workers were found without head covers, gloves and aprons. The outlet could not produce certification confirming that the material used for pizza packaging was food-grade. A cork pad used for serving hot pizzas was also found dirty. Drainage in the preparation and cleaning areas was inadequate, with clogged drains. Updated employee health certificates, details of the responsible person mentioned in the food licence and the food-safety checklist were also unavailable.At another outlet of the same chain on MG Marg, Civil Lines, veg and non-veg utensils and food stored in the deep freezer were not segregated. Health certificates of pizza-making staff were unavailable, while the washing sink had inadequate drainage. Pest-control and cleaning programme SOPs/checklists were also not produced.An outlet of the second prominent pan-India pizza chain on SP Marg, inspected on Tuesday, was found lacking proper segregation of veg and non-veg food in its cold chamber. Health certificates of pizza-making staff were unavailable and some workers were not using gloves. Loading bags and helmets were found in the main kitchen, prompting directions for separate storage. Officials also instructed the outlet to restrict entry into the kitchen to authorised persons.Another outlet of the same chain at Lokseva, George Town, inspected on Monday, showed similar lapses, including improper segregation, delayed disposal of use-by/discard-date items, lack of protective gear, missing food-grade packaging certification and unavailable medical fitness certificates, pest-control records and food-safety checklists.On Tuesday, inspections were also conducted in Koraon and surrounding areas. Legal samples of barfi and milk cake were collected from sweet shops, while a sample of besan laddoo was collected from another sweet shop at Lediari. The samples have been sent for laboratory testing. Another sweet shop at Devra Mod was issued a notice over inadequate cleanliness.The department directed the establishments concerned to rectify the deficiencies and submit the required records within 14 days. Failure to comply will invite legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
