FSSAI directs restaurants to use food-grade, corrosion-resistant cutting equipment

The FSSAI has directed restaurants to use only food-grade, corrosion-resistant cutting equipment and maintain strict hygiene standards. Food safety authorities across States and Union Territories have been asked to ensure compliance, with violations attracting action under food safety laws.

Hyderabad: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Thursday issued an advisory to restaurants to mandatorily utilise food-grade corrosion-resistant cutting equipment.

It is mandatory for hotels to only use food-grade and corrosion-resistant materials for knives, blades, and other cutting tools in all food handling and processing tasks.

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Equipment must be kept in hygienic conditions, free from rust, corrosion, cracks, paint, or any other defects that pose a risk of contamination. Any equipment found to be rusted, damaged, or unsuitable must be immediately removed from service and replaced.

The restaurants are required to follow adequate cleaning, sanitization, and sterilization procedures for all cutting tools at prescribed intervals, the advisory said.

The FSSAI has directed Commissioners of Food Safety across in all States/UTs and Regional Directors to maintain strict vigilance to ensure these provisions are upheld.

Any observed non-compliance will attract strict action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and its associated regulations, it added.