KMC recruits new food inspectors

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has recruited 80 new food inspectors across the city of Kolkata to maintain strong vigilance on sales of food and drinks. The KMC has already taken some significant steps to prevent food adulteration and this addition of new food inspectors happen to be one of them. The recruitment process of these food inspectors started last month, according to sources. Prior to this the KMC only had 12 food inspectors to look after adulteration issues across the city. After the addition of 80 new officials, each borough will have a food inspector who will look after the quality of food served to the mass. The food inspectors will work hand in hand with the food safety officers of the health department. A KMC official said, “We have split the force into 16 teams which will work in city’s 16 boroughs. Each borough will have five food inspectors who will look after markets shops, hotels, restaurants and eateries under their jurisdiction”. KMC with the help of these inspectors will now also be able to keep an eye on the wholesale markets and eateries across Kolkata. “We have the stale chicken sale fiasco still fresh in mind. Besides, we know spices, edible oil and even packaged drinking water bottles are not safe in some areas of the city. Now we will at least be vigilant given the increase in the number of food inspectors”, said another KMC official.