Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Mar 31: The officials of the Mangaluru City Corporation on Friday March 30 sealed a bakery in Urwa Stores after a video showing the filthy condition of its godown went viral in social media.
The video was shot by Shashidhar Shetty, state secretary of National Environment Care Foundation, who found that water leaking from a latrine in a multi-storeyed building was getting collected in the bakery's godown, where food was kept uncovered.
The viral video has seen over 5,000 shares and 1.3 lac views since it was uploaded on March 28.
Shashidhar Shetty also shot footage of the filthy kitchen, where food was being prepared in unhygenic conditions. Shockingly, the video revealed that dyes used in garment factories and grease were being used to make the snacks look attractive.
Screenshots from the video
Speaking to daijiworld, Shashidhar Shetty who recorded the video said that he was on his work of tiles marketing in the neighbourhood, when he noticed the kitchen of the bakery.
Slamming the MCC for issuing licence to the bakery, he said, "There is no proper parking place, and nothing is in order. This bakery is an example of how corruption is rampant at MCC. For a few currency notes, officials allow bakeries like these to operate which puts the health of several in jeopardy. I have complained to the deputy commissioner (DC), joint commissioner of MCC and also the principal secretary of food safety. This may not be the only bakery as we see hundreds of such bakeries in and around the city. If we inspect closely, many such issues are yet to be unearthed."
Though Shetty informed the MCC officials the same day he uploaded the video, the officials failed to act until Friday. With the video going viral, the bakery employees were alerted and the the two-day gap in between enabled them to clean up, it is alleged.
When the officials visited the godown on Friday, it was found that the godown had already been vacated and there were no commodities left. Health officer Dr Manjayya Shetty said that the godown was sealed, and samples of food items were taken to be sent to the food laboratory in Mysuru. The report will take 15 days, he said.
Dr Manjayya Shetty told a newspaper that he could not take immediate action on Shashidhar Shetty's verbal complaint as he did not know the exact location of the bakery.
Designated officer of food safety Rajesh Shetty said, "MCC officials and food safety officials have visited the manufacturing unit and locked down the place. We have also collected the samples, and notice has been issued. The bakery as well as the manufacturing unit do not posses food licence. The bakery only possesses trade license."
Video