A team of Department of Commerce and Supply Management (DoCSM) a month ago had directed the owner of Shree Coffee Shop and Café to maintain cleanliness and serve hygienic food to consumers. But as the eatery didn't show any improvement, market inspectors sealed it on Wednesday in the presence of the hospital officials.
"Food items sold at Teaching Hospital's canteen was unfit for consumption," Hari Narayan Belbase, head of the monitoring team of Department of Commerce and Supply Management (DoCSM), told Republica. "We were left with no option but to seal the canteen."
According to the department, there were flies all over the food at the canteen. Similarly, there were mosquitoes in curd and the canteen was selling expired cakes. It was using outdated milk to produce milk-based products. These products are sold not only to visitors but also to patients of the hospital.
"We found no improvement in the canteen despite our warning issued a month ago," said Belbase, criticizing the hospital management for its failure to monitor quality of food being served in hospital premises.
The condition of two canteens operating on the premises of Kanti Children's Hospital was no different. Market inspectors found Shree Guheshwari Hotel and Shree Kanti Store selling outdated products and overcharging customers.
Market inspectors have asked operators of these canteens to furnish clarification at the department within a week. They have also summoned officials of both the hospitals at DoCSM for clarification.
"The hospital management should be responsible to monitor quality of food served at its canteens. We will not allow the canteen to operate unless the hospital management assures us that the canteen henceforth will serve quality food," said Belbase.
Related story
Fire breaks out at canteen of Sigma College in Kathmandu (With...
