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Mangalore is widely regarded as one of the cleanest cities in India. Nevertheless, doubts will be raised if someone makes this statement about the hygienic scenario existing in the hotels in Port city.

Shabby, unkempt, untidy premises and unhygienic cooking practices are the common scene in most of the hotels.

Month old cooking oil

On visiting different hotel kitchens, City Herald found that neither do the cooks wear an overcoats nor do they cover their heads while cooking.

The servers should wash their hands properly and the nails should be cut. However, in majority of the kitchens, these common guidelines are not following.

Speaking to City herald, a cook in a hotel admits that using the used cooking oils is common in all hotels in the city.

“No body will go for new cooking oil every time. Once in two weeks or a month, we change it, provided the colour of the oil has changed,” he said adding that the oil used to fry chicken kebab by him in his hotel was a month old.

Usage of stock meat is common in the city.

A cook (not from India) who makes Shavarma rolls in one of the hotels in the City says that meat stored in cold storage for over a week is often used for making the rolls.

“Rice items are comparatively secured as it has more takers. Chapatis and paratas too are sold to customers after a day or two”, said a cook.

Health problems

Doctors warn that using of overused cooking oil has serious impact over the health, which can even lead to cancer. Oil is said to lose its natural properties with heating. Such oil will not digest and form a layer in the gastro intestinal tract. It also affects liver,” warned IMA Family Doctor State Wing Director Dr Annayya Kulal.

Apathy

The Mangalore City Corporation, which is supposed to conduct regular raids and take action against unhygienic practices in hotels are not bothered about it at all.

“I have not seen any health department raid in restaurants and joints for the last few years”, said one of the management staff in a hotel near Hampankatta. MCC Health Officer in-Charge U Raghunath said that the Corporation has no guidelines and instructions for hotels to follow. “If there are any complaints, we will inform the District Health Office, and they have to take action”, he said.

Recently, more than hundred students from a College in the city were admitted to hospitals after eating food at their sent-off party, which was bought from a bakery near Kadri. With cases of food poisoning rising and with more and more people going to the hotels to relish lip-smacking delicacies, even hotel management should have some concern for their customers.