Food Hygiene Lapses at Padma Kanya Campus
Food hygiene has been found to be weak in the canteen and the hostel dining hall of Padma Kanya Campus (PK Campus). During a joint inspection by Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, basic hygiene practices were also found to be poor at these locations, according to Food Technologist Anil Basnet. The college lies in Ward No. 28 of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, in Bagbazar.
Canteen Conditions and Expired Chow Mein
Describing the situation observed during the inspection, Food Technologist Ashok Parajuli said, “In this place, which is operated under the name Bagheswari Chamenagriha, the cleanliness status was found to be normal.
There was no proper use of mesh caps (hair nets), gloves and aprons. Prepared food items were kept without covering, the pan used for frying was extremely old, and there were no arrangements for equipment to reduce fire-related risks. This canteen was found not to have registered its business.”
During the inspection, 700 grams of expired chow mein from the canteen was destroyed.
Poor Hygiene in the Hostel Dining Hall
Hygiene in the dining hall operated for the college’s residential students was also weak. Food items in the store room were stored in an unorganised manner.
The exhaust fan in the kitchen was not functioning, and there was accumulated black dirt at the cooking area. No method for pest control was found to have been adopted in the kitchen. This dining hall is operated by P.K. Chamenagriha and Restaurant.
Water Treatment Plant and Drinking Water
There was no water in the water purification system (water treatment plant) installed at the college. The area around the plant was full of dust and dirt.
Food Research Officer Buddhabahadur Kunwar of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control stated that, when the drinking water used by the college students was tested for ammonia, it was found to be ammonia-free.
College Response After Inspection
“Shortcomings were observed. We will improve this,” Assistant Principal of the college, Bimala Nepal, said after the inspection.
Directions Given to the College
The inspection team instructed the college canteen and the hostel dining hall to install pest control systems, to pay attention to cleanliness and hygiene, to use only processed food items with labels, to use only products manufactured by authorised industries, to sell and distribute only food items that have obtained a food licence, and to install equipment to reduce fire risks.
Inspection of Other Food Establishments in Bagbazar
During the same inspection, the team also inspected Vimala Sweets and Chart House and Bajrayogini Bhojanalaya and Khaja Ghar, which are operating in Ward Bagbazar.
It was found that Vimala Sweets and Chart House had not obtained permission for the sale and distribution of sweet-type food items and was selling and distributing such sweets under a fast food operation permit. As a result, the establishment was instructed to obtain a business permit specifically for the sale and distribution of sweet-type food items.
Both of these food service providers were found to be packing items in ink-printed paper bags, to have only normal levels of cleanliness, not to have installed equipment to reduce fire-related risks, to keep rubbish bins uncovered and not to have paid attention to pest management.
