The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) has fined three local restaurants a total of Tk 90,000 for severe food safety violations including the use of burnt cooking oil and improper food storage.
The penalties were issued during a raid in the city's Patenga area on Thursday, August 6.
Hotel Patenga received the steepest fine of Tk 60,000. Inspectors discovered the restaurant was using degraded burnt oil for cooking, storing raw meat and fish alongside stale grilled items and operating in a highly unhygienic kitchen environment.
Additionally Valencia Food Corner was fined Tk 20,000 for the unsanitary refrigeration of various food items while Chittagong Kitchen was penalized Tk 10,000 for generally unhygienic food preparation practices.
Faiz Ullah, Deputy Director of the DNCRP Chattogram Division confirmed the penalties. "These regular drives are essential to ensure safe and quality food for consumers" he said. "We found clear evidence of dangerous food storage and unhygienic practices. We have penalized the offenders according to the law and we will intensify these drives in the public interest."
