City has just five food inspectors

City has just five food inspectors

The BBMP lab for testing food samples has been lying shut for last 5 months

Shwetha S. Bangalore



Do you eat out often? Here's reason for worry. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has just five food inspectors to inspect nearly 1 lakh eateries spread over 800sq km. What's more, for the past five months, even the BBMP laboratory for testing food samples, located on the premises of the Dasappa Maternity Hospital, NR Road, has been shut.
According to information obtained after a Right to Information petition was filed, the BBMP issued 1500 fresh food licences in 2007-08 under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
The information obtained through the RTI reveals that in 2007-08, only three samples were found adulterated; in 2008-09, 28 samples showed adulteration. Seven cases were filed in the court against adulterators.
BBMP sources said that only six food samples were collected on an average each month. The source revealed that this routine function is hampered as officials are often sent to test food for visiting dignitaries, VIPs or the chief minister. The chief chemist at the closed BBMP laboratory, Dr James Alexander, retired five months ago, but has still to be replaced.
Meanwhile, proposals to increase the number of food inspectors lie pending with the government.