Market Monitoring Intensified Amidst Festival Season Concerns
Summary
Market monitoring has intensified during Dashain as complaints rise about adulterated food, substandard goods, and poor hygiene in restaurants and sweet shops. The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control says consumers should check labels, expiry dates, storage instructions, and brand authenticity before buying food items.
Key Points
- Complaints have increased during the festival season, especially about food served at hotels and restaurants as well as packaged goods in the market.
- Officials say the use of non-food colors has declined, but misuse of edible food colors and improper use in tea and other items has emerged as a new problem.
- The Food Hygiene and Quality Act 2081 has given local and provincial governments more authority to monitor markets outside the federal level.
- Consumers are urged to read labels, verify brands, store food properly, and follow the WHO's Five Keys to Food Safety.
