The Chandigarh property of the major hospitality chain ‘Taj’ has been issued notices under the provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
The inspection was conducted by a team of officers led by the ADC, Chandigarh, Capt. P S Shergill comprising of SDM (South) along with the officials of Health Department and Excise & Taxation Department, Chandigarh.
According to a press communication by the Chandigarh Adminstration during the course of the inspection, the hygienic conditions of the cooking areas and storage areas were checked. The standard of hygiene required to be maintained in the cooking/storage areas were found to be lacking. The cooking utensils and their lids were found to be very dirty. The tinning and enameling of the cooking utensils was not found to be carried out. Already served food which should have been discarded was kept with the food to be served. Prepared cold coffee was found to be stored in the deep freezer. Rasagullas and cow milk was kept in the washing sink. Dustbins full of garbage were kept right next to the places where vegetables, fruit and meat were being cut. The fans inside the deep freezer were covered with soot.
The inspection team took four samples of prepared food which has been sent to the Food Laboratory for testing. Hotel Taj has been challaned under the provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
On the excise side, during the inspection it was found that the prescribed registers were not being maintained. An underage person was serving liquor in the bar. Hotel Taj has also been challaned under the provisions of the Punjab Excise Act, 1914. Thorough scrutiny of the accounts being maintained, verification of balance sheets and C forms account was carried out by the VAT team.
This inspection was undertaken to enforce the provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, the Value Added Tax 2005, the Punjab Excise Act, 1914, in compliance of the orders issued by District Magistrate, Chandigarh, Brijendra Singh.