Glaring anomalies found in kitchen of posh Club Cabbana

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 19

Deplorable hygienic conditions were found at the posh Club Cabbana Resort on the Jalandhar-Phagwara highway on Monday when teams, led by Assistant Food Commissioner, Dr Harjot Pal, raided the premises of the resort.

Glaring anomalies were detected by the team of the Health Department at the resort, known to host several high-profile events featuring the who’s who of the area.

Club Cabbana was also the venue for the wedding of cricketer Harbhajan Singh.

Violations detected by the team included raw black chana lying in a steel tray in the kitchen infested with insects, dead houseflies in the display refrigerator (used to display cakes and pastries) of the club, open dustbins lying in the kitchen area — immediately in the vicinity of food items, making the items susceptible to contamination.

The hotel administration was given a serious warning notice to rectify the state of affairs at the club, particularly in the kitchen area, within two weeks, failing which the Food Safety Licence of the hotel will be suspended. The administration also warned of legal action against the offenders, as per the report of the analysis of the State Food Lab, Kharar, under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules and Regulations 2011.

The vegetables being used by the kitchen staff had also deteriorated. The beetroot being used was in a bad condition, infested with fungus; the cabbage and ladyfinger also lay in a deteriorated condition. Food items were seen being prepared in the proximity of uncovered dustbins (paranthas being prepared) among other anomalies.

Six samples were taken from the kitchen - of milk, paneer, ice-cream, prepared gravy, packed warian, raw black chana. All vegetables and other food materials, which were grossly deteriorated and insect-infested, were destroyed on the spot.

The samples taken at the club were dispatched to the State Food Laboratory, Kharar, and the report of the analysis will be made available to the department at the earliest.

Warning notice

The hotel was given a serious warning notice to rectify the state of affairs at the club, particularly in the kitchen area, within two weeks, failing which, the Food Safety License of the hotel will be suspended.