Gumla Food Safety Drive Inspects Shops and School Kitchen, Issues Hygiene Directives

The district administration and Food Safety Department have intensified inspections of food establishments across Gumla to curb adulteration and the sale of substandard food products during the festive season. Officials have warned that the enforcement drive will continue through the year, including after the festivities conclude.

The inspection campaign began with surprise visits to shops, commercial establishments and educational institutions in Gumla town. The team was led by Food Safety Officers Prakash Chandra Guggi, Kumar Prabhakar and Asha Raj. The inspections focused on food quality, hygiene, pest control, storage practices and compliance with food safety requirements.

During the drive, officials inspected M/s Mantri Store in SS Gali and directed its management to arrange regular pest-control services, maintain high standards of cleanliness and ensure that expired food products were never sold.

The team also inspected the storage room and kitchen used for preparing mid-day meals at SS (10+2) High School in Gumla, with particular attention to food safety and the health of students.

The school principal was advised to verify product labels, licence numbers, packaging dates and use-by dates before purchasing food supplies. Officials also instructed the school to maintain proper hygiene in the kitchen and storage areas.

The inspection team directed the kitchen staff to stop using iron knives for cutting and preparing food and to use stainless-steel knives instead. Food establishments were also instructed to install covered dustbins to ensure proper waste disposal and prevent unhygienic conditions.

The Food Safety Department said the inspections were intended to prevent unsafe food handling, improve sanitation and ensure that food served to consumers, particularly schoolchildren, met required safety standards.

Officials cautioned traders and food business operators against violating food safety norms, stressing that surprise inspections would continue across Gumla district even after the festive season. The department said establishments would be expected to maintain hygiene and food safety standards on an ongoing basis rather than only during special occasions.