the goan I network
CANACONA
Fears and anxiety over contaminated food refuse to die down in Canacona and in yet another incident, a policeman accused a chicken outlet of selling chicken, which had the odour of phenyl, at its branch in Canacona on Thursday.
According to reports, the policeman had purchased 4 kgs of chicken at the chicken outlet in Chaudi-Canacona on the occasion of his son’s birthday. “When the chicken was being cooked at my place, it began to smell of phenyl,” complained the policeman.
The policeman reportedly headed straight to the chicken outlet at Chaudi and confronted the staff, who are alleged to have admitted that the chicken had the odour of phenyl.
A few activists heard of the news and notified the police and Canacona Jt Mamlatdar, accusing the chicken outlet of selling contaminated food stuff in Canacona.
A Canacona police team led by PSI Ramachandra Naik and a few activists visited the premises of the chicken outlet and were seen taking stock of the situation.
The police notified the FDA and asked its team to conduct necessary tests on the eatables sold at the outlet.
Samples from the complainant and other samples from stock kept for sale at outlet were then taken for inspection.
“Irrespective of further inspection/tests by FDA of all eatables sold at the chicken outlet at Chaudi, the sealed samples by police will be sent for further analysis at the FDA laboratory,” informed a police source, adding that police had already drafted a letter to FDA to conduct food safety tests on items sold at the outlet.
Sources further informed the manager at the chicken outlet denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the outlet had been maintaining top hygiene and cleanliness standards.
The manager claimed that the outlet was part of a brand which operated across the state and had been in operation for several decades.
Recently, several thousands of fruits were found to have been contaminated with chemicals to artificially ripen the fruits at the Chaudi market, while a sweet mart at Chaudi was also accused of selling expired food products.
