The Hindhu | VISAKHAPATNAM, December 29, 2015
The Food and Safety Department of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has temporarily sealed the canteen of Seven Hills Hospital, here on Monday, for serving Kesari Dal or Almorta or Lathyrus Sativas or grass pea, in the name of serving red gram or ‘kandi papu’ soup.
A team led by Food Safety Officer G.V. Apparao sealed the canteen and seized about 375 kg of kesari dal from the premises.
The consumption of certain legumes of the genus Lathyrus causes neurological disorder such as lathyrism or neurolathyrism.
Kesari dal has harmful toxins and it is banned, said Mr. Apparao.
He further said Kesari dal resembles the red gram when polished, and it was being mixed with red gram, as the price of red gram is skyrocketing.
However, official spokesperson of the hospital said the canteen was outsourced to one Srivari Caterers and the hospital does not have any direct access, except for random checks, on and off, by the dieticians of the hospital.
The GVMC officials also conduct checks on regular basis and this was for the first time that some irregularities were found, said sources in the hospital.
A case has been booked and investigation is on.
