Sweet shops get bitter message on hygiene

The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) warned seven sweetmeat brands on Sunday over their failure to meet hygiene standards.    

These brands will be banned if they do not improve the standard by January 30 next year, the Food Safety Authority said at an event in Dhaka on Sunday. 

The sweetmeat brands are - Premium Sweets, Rosh Food and Bakery (sweetmeat), Banoful & Co, Modhuban Sweets, Bikrampur Mistanna Bhander (Lake Circus outlet), Shahi Mithai and Bankers Club Cafe & Restaurant.      

At the event, 23 sweetmeat brands and restaurants received stickers of standard certifications.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, who joined the programme as the chief guest, said, "I buy from Premium Sweets. Here I see the brand is in grade Red. But the sweetmeat boxes look tremendous."           

The minister said he was surprised by Premium's grade point. 

The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority initiated a grading system recently for food stores, eateries and restaurants. The BFSA grades in four categories - A Plus (excellent), A (good), B (medium) and C (quality pending). 

Madhob Ghosh, president of the Bangladesh Sweets Manufacturers Association, told The Business Standard that the sweetmeat brands categorized as 'C' are actually very popular. They might have done bad owing to minor issues.

"Each brand is capable to fix those issues within a month. Because they are well established," he added.            

In the meantime, Mahbub Kabir, member of the Safe Food Authority, said, "We prioritised categorising the sweetmeat brands as they are very popular. We hope the brands who have been warned will correct themselves within the deadline."

Otherwise, stern action will be taken, he added.

On Sunday, 14 brands received Grade A stickers while the remaining nine were categorised as Grade B.  

The A Grade brands are - Bhagyakul Mistanna Bhandar, Bonolata Sweets & Bakery, Century Sweets, TakeOut (Factory), TakeOut (Banani outlet), Blue Moon Restaurant, Bhooter Adda, Café Cherry Drops, Mr Burger, Apan Coffee House, Kavan Restaurant, Golden Gate, Coffee Lime and Cooper's.             

The nine B graded brands are - Bikkrompur Mistanno Vhander, Olivers, Tray Story Rooftop, Tradition BD, Café Apeliano, Popeyes Coffee, Caviar Restaurant, Spice Route Restaurant and Takeout (Dhanmondi). 

In the first phase, the Food Safety Authority provided 57 restaurants with food category grading stickers.