Sell lunch packets within 4 hours

Head of the CMC health division warns vendors By S. Selvakumar All packets of lunch brought into the city should be sold within four hours of preparation, Head of the CMC health division Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam told a meeting of lunch packet sellers held at the Municipality Auditorium earlier this week. This was one of the measures adopted by the Colombo Municipality following complaints by several consumers as well as following detections made by Public Health Inspectors that food parcels, especially lunch packets brought to the city from the suburbs were often did not meet the expected quality and sometimes spoilt. At this meeting addressed by Dr. Kariyawasam over 100 sellers of lunch packets were present along with various Municipal officials including Public Health Inspectors. It was also told that a ban has been imposed to pack food in rigifoam containers and in newsprint which he explained was a health hazard that could even lead to dangerous diseases like cancer if consumed regularly since the oily matter in the container and newsprint get absorbed to the food. Dr. Kariyawasam also explained that a scheme has been implemented to register those food sellers in the city that would help CMC authorities to keep a constant tab on them. The PHIs have been authorised to subject the food in the packets for inspection to ascertain the quality and purity, he told the vendors. He requested them to cooperate with the authorities to ensure clean and wholesome food mainly to thousands of office workers who patronise them daily. “This was only a start aimed at ensuring quality and clean lunch to office workers since many of them cannot afford to eat at posh hotels. The scheme will be intensified in the future and those vendors who fail to adhere to standards specified by the CMC would be prosecuted after a few initial warnings,” Dr.Kariyawasam said. Source: http://www.nation.lk/2011/07/31/news15.htm