Dimapur, September 29 (MExN): After Bakeries in Dimapur were raided on Monday September 27, consumers in Dimapur finally woke to the harsh reality of what most of them have been consuming all along and incidentally paying a hefty price for it. Angry consumers and citizens want the bakeries and eateries in Dimapur recently found violating health and hygiene norms, shut until ‘clean up,’ literally.
The bakeries are still open and doing usual business, considering that many of them just a few days ago were penalized for a shocking array of violations – they were found without proper sanitation and in unhygienic working conditions, manipulated and misbranding of dates of manufacturing on products, expired raw materials and illegal food products. Consumers definitely have reasons to be worried for their health.
On the other hand, the bakeries and food outlets whose trade licenses were seized are still opening shop and doing usual business.
Many citizens expressed concern that the bakeries are still open and running business as usual and suggested that the ‘penalized bakeries’ be shut immediately. “The bakeries should remain closed and allowed to run again only after they clean up their mess” said a worried citizen.
The raid earlier was led by a team of Department of Health & Family Welfare, Dimapur District administration, Police and Dimapur Municipal Council saw most of the bakeries in violation of the Essential Commodities Act and the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.
The bakeries were given 10-15 days to clean up their mess after which another check will be carried out.
ADC of Dimapur Sedevikho Khro told media persons today that the concern is with the bakery products, those which are being produced from the bakery kitchens such as bread and biscuits and not the packaged stuff. He also said that only after the violating bakeries adhere to the norms and regulation will they be allowed to start baking or their licenses will be ultimately cancelled.
Expressing concern the Dimapur SDO said “we cannot compromise on our health.” He felt that a review is in need of all bakery products and the need to go into the details of bakeries and their functioning.
