3 top-graded eateries fined Tk 3.45 lakh
A day after introducing a grading system for eateries, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection yesterday fined three restaurants Tk 3.45 lakh for preparing food in objectionable condition and charging higher than retail prices.
Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has introduced the grading system for restaurants on the basis of quality of food and overall hygiene of the establishments. As part of the grading system, they gave A+ grade to 18 and A grade to 39 restaurants in Motijheel, Dilkusha, Paltan and Secretariat areas on Sunday.
Yesterday, the directorate conducted drives in some restaurants including Bhoj, Bagicha, Enjoy Restaurant and Fast Food where they found employees not maintaining proper hygiene. The kitchens of the eateries were dirty too.
One of the restaurants was selling products at prices higher than retail, said Zannatul Ferdaus, assistant director of the Directorate, who led the drive.
Of the three restaurants, two were given “A+” and the other an “A” by BFSA, she told this correspondent over phone.
She said, “They seemed somewhat complacent after getting the grades.”
Contacted, Mahbub Kabir, member of BFSA, said the restaurants should be given more time to bring changes.
“By conducting drives through mobile court, these changes will not happen,” he added.
The BFSA has set a 53-point check-list of compliance standards under 10 titles that include: necessary proof/certification documents, individual hygiene, approved source, relative contamination, cleanliness, processing procedures and temperature control, equipment/machinery, chemical substance, pests and insects control, drainage and pipe management.
Restaurants with a score of 90 and above get A+, 80 points and up get A, between 55 and 79 points get B and between 45 and 54 points get C.
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