Do dry pantries need food safety license ?

TechnoparkToday.com >>  In a bizarre turn of events, food safety officials barged into an IT company to inspect their dry pantry (a dining area for employees with a coffee vending machine and drinking water dispenser).  The officials not only closed down the pantry demanding a food safety license, but also engaged in a war of words with employees.

This happened despite Technopark authorities given permission to food safety officials only to inspect eateries in Technopark.  Thoughtline, a Technology company operating in Ganga building of Technopark Phase III was the scene of the entire drama.  It was by Friday evening that food safety officials came to inspect the IT company which is functioning in the SEZ campus.

The employees questioned whether they have a permission to enter the SEZ campus, but the food safety officials insisted on conducting an inspection.  They even called police to intervene in the baseless issue.

“It is unfortunate that such incidents are happening at a time when Kerala IT is doing its best to bring major IT companies to the state.  It is nothing but officers’ highhandedness and ego.  We are running IT companies, not eateries. Such dry pantries are set to ensure that employees get a comfortable area for dining” managing director of a Technopark company said to TechnoparkToday.com.

Employees and management of most of the companies where shocked by the unauthorized entry of food safety officials into an IT company and disrupting its normal functioning.   The food safety officials also defamed the name of the company by circulating its name among the eateries which were closed after their audit.

Sources said that the company has escalated the matter to higher officials in the department of IT.  It is expected that government will take a strong action to ensure that such issues are not repeated.

Meanwhile, food safety officials temporarily closed down 5 eateries in Technopark citing unhygienic conditions.  A total of 93 eateries were inspected and among them, 30 were slapped a fine of Rs. 1.94 lakhs.  Tasty Six at Bhavani building, Arabic Paradise near main gate, Gafoor Ka Dosth, Sabardast Fusion, and Table Cafe at Thejaswini building were among the eateries which were temporarily closed down.

Suryajith, TechnoparkToday.com