75% eateries fail to follow norms

Nearly 75 per cent of the food business operators (FBOs) in the city are yet to comply with the new norms laid down by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Health Department officials said. Unlicensed eateries compromise on cleanliness, they added.

The department is conducting a survey to determine the exact number of FBOs. According to unnofficial figures, 22,000 of such eateries are currently operating in the State. Of these, 7,000 are in the city. “Only 30 per cent of food chains in the state have obtained licence and have converted their existing licences under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act,1954, to the new Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, said Health Commissioner V B Patil.

The Act mandates hotels, franchised eateries and roadside food vendors to register with FSSAI and follow basic hygiene and safety requirements or pay a maximum fine of `1 lakh. The lukewarm response from FBOs has forced authorities to advance the deadline from February 4, this year, to the same time next year.