The market inspection team even caught the canteen staff peeling rotten potatoes.[break]
“Use of rotten potatoes and unprocessed water in the canteen at Om Hospital -- one of the leading hospitals of Kathmandu Valley -- is a matter of shame,” said Khilanath Bastakoti, director of DoC. Furthermore, the canteen was found to be selling soup that contained dirt.
The canteen was operating without renewing its license, was selling unlabelled breads and chips and not maintaining proper hygiene in the kitchen. It was also found to be using unlabeled flour for making breads.
Commenting on the market inspection conducted by the authorities Dr Bhola Rijal, chairman of the hospital, said that hospital authorities normally monitor the canteen and immediately dispose of outdated products.
“They might not have been able to clean up properly this time because of ongoing construction activities at the hospital,” he said, but added quickly that if DoC has found the canteen unhygienic then it should take strict action against it.
The market inspection team also found the pharmacy store on hospital premises selling medicines without price tags. Existing consumer rights regulations make price tag and other information labels mandatory for all packed foods and medicines.
Following the findings, DoC has instructed the canteen operator to appear at the department within three days with clarifications.
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