Harmful chemical, expired spices found in Kacchi Express’s biryani, Tk1.1 lakh fined

The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection fined Kacchi Express, a restaurant located at GEC Circle in Chattogram, Tk1.10 lakh for using unauthorised and harmful chemical, expired spices in cooking biryani and storing the food in unhygienic conditions.

The DNCRP team also fined Tk 20,000 to Flavors Premium Sweets & Bakers at GEC Circle and Tk10,000 to Maulana Pharmacy, located in the Kathgarh area of Patenga.

The operation conducted was on Wednesday (2 October), led by Mohammad Faiz Ullah, Deputy Director of Chittagong divisional office and assistant directors Nasreen Akhtar, Rana Deb Nath, and Md Anisur Rahman.

Deputy Director Mohammad Faiz Ullah confirmed the matter and said Kacchi Express was found using expired spices, unsanitary chemicals, and storing stale biryani in unhygienic conditions. 

“The restaurant was fined Tk1 lakh for these food safety violations. Additionally, a written complaint regarding repeated instances of scalp hair found in their food resulted in an extra fine of Tk10,000, with Tk2,500 being awarded to the complainant as an incentive”, he added.

“Flavors Premium Sweets & Bakers was found attempting to sell expired confectionery by altering the production and expiry date stickers on the packaging. For this violation, the establishment was fined Tk 20,000,” Faiz Ullah said.

“Maulana Pharmacy, located in the Kathgarh area of Patenga, was fined Tk10,000 for keeping a large stock of expired medicines,” he also said.

The operation concluded with warnings to the establishments to avoid such offenses in the future.