After the video of unhygienic preparation of lemon juice at a stall on platform number 7/8 at Kurla station went viral, Central Railway (CR) banned the sale of lemon and all syrup-based artificial juices across all zones.
CR officials clarified that there is no ban on the sale of juices extracted using a juicer, like carrot juice. In its circular issued on Wednesday, the CR has banned sale of lemon juice and drinks, like kalakhatta, that are prepared by mixing syrup or concentrated powder in water. A CR official said that during summer, the demand for cold drinks increases. As they do not want to take any chance with people’s health, they decided to ban juices that are prepared using water. Also, it is difficult to monitor the quality of water used for making these beverages. Even if the water quality is good, hygienic preparation is important.
On Monday night, CR officials sealed a railway stall at Kurla station after a video went viral in which an employee is seen preparing lemon juice in an unhygienic way. The action was taken after a commuter posted the video on his Twitter handle and tagged CR.
While samples of the lemon juice have been sent for bacteriological examination, the Wadala railway police have booked two men in the case. Activist Mansoor Darvesh has welcomed the CR decision and demanded similar action on Western Railway, citing the 2016 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report which came down heavily on railways for poor hygiene of catering services.
The report had observed that food articles unsuitable for human consumption, contaminated foodstuff, recycled foodstuff, packaged and bottled items past their shelf life and unauthorised brands of water bottles were offered for sale at stations. During the joint inspection between July and October 2016 by Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) team and the railways at selected 74 stations and 80 trains, the audit noticed a lack in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene at catering units at stations and in trains. The audit had observed that unpurified water straight from the tap was used in the preparation of beverages, waste bins were not found covered, weren't emptied regularly and not washed, foodstuff was not covered to protect it from flies, insects and dust, rats and cockroaches were found in trains.
After the video of unhygienic preparation of lemon juice at a stall on platform number 7/8 at Kurla station went viral, Central Railway (CR) banned the sale of lemon and all syrup-based artificial juices across all zones.
CR officials clarified that there is no ban on the sale of juices extracted using a juicer, like carrot juice. In its circular issued on Wednesday, the CR has banned sale of lemon juice and drinks, like kalakhatta, that are prepared by mixing syrup or concentrated powder in water. A CR official said that during summer, the demand for cold drinks increases. As they do not want to take any chance with people’s health, they decided to ban juices that are prepared using water. Also, it is difficult to monitor the quality of water used for making these beverages. Even if the water quality is good, hygienic preparation is important.
On Monday night, CR officials sealed a railway stall at Kurla station after a video went viral in which an employee is seen preparing lemon juice in an unhygienic way. The action was taken after a commuter posted the video on his Twitter handle and tagged CR.
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While samples of the lemon juice have been sent for bacteriological examination, the Wadala railway police have booked two men in the case. Activist Mansoor Darvesh has welcomed the CR decision and demanded similar action on Western Railway, citing the 2016 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report which came down heavily on railways for poor hygiene of catering services.
The report had observed that food articles unsuitable for human consumption, contaminated foodstuff, recycled foodstuff, packaged and bottled items past their shelf life and unauthorised brands of water bottles were offered for sale at stations. During the joint inspection between July and October 2016 by Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) team and the railways at selected 74 stations and 80 trains, the audit noticed a lack in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene at catering units at stations and in trains. The audit had observed that unpurified water straight from the tap was used in the preparation of beverages, waste bins were not found covered, weren't emptied regularly and not washed, foodstuff was not covered to protect it from flies, insects and dust, rats and cockroaches were found in trains.