Vadodara Eatery Shut After Cat Found Licking Dough Used for Rotis

Vadodara: The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) has ordered two eateries to shut down after separate food safety incidents came to light, including a viral video showing a cat licking dough inside a flour-kneading machine at Jai Swaminarayan Kathiyawadi Bhojanalaya on Nizampura Road and a customer allegedly finding a dead fly in sambar served by Trinity Cafe in Alkapuri.

Following the viral video, VMC food safety officers inspected Jai Swaminarayan Kathiyawadi Bhojanalaya and found unhygienic conditions at the premises. The officials destroyed 12 kg of unfit-for-consumption rotis and flour on the spot, issued a Schedule-4 notice to the proprietor and ordered the eatery to shut down.

The incident came to light after a customer visiting the eatery recorded a video showing a cat sitting on the flour-kneading machine and licking the dough inside it. The dough was reportedly being used to prepare rotis served to customers. The video, which also showed customers dining outside while the cat moved freely inside the premises, subsequently went viral on social media.

VMC officials also took action against Trinity Cafe in Alkapuri after a customer allegedly found a dead fly in the sambar accompanying an idli parcel purchased from the cafe. After the video of the incident surfaced on social media, food safety officers inspected the premises, issued a notice to the proprietor and ordered the cafe to shut down.

Meanwhile, the VMC conducted food safety inspections at 12 establishments, including eight retailers, one food vending establishment and three restaurants, across Shastribag–Kaladarshan Crossroads, Parivar Crossroads, Karelibag, Harni, Alkapuri and Nizampura.

During the inspection drive, officials collected 11 suspicious food samples, including ghee, tea, coriander powder, chilli powder, gathiya, thabdi peda, kesar peda, kesari peda, pista barfi, almond ice cream and paneer butter masala. The samples have been sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Medical experts have warned that consuming food contaminated by animals can pose a risk of foodborne infection. Dr Urmil Jambusaria, MD Medicine, said that consumption of such food could potentially lead to food poisoning or infection. DeshGujarat