Aizawl: The Aizawl district deputy commissioner has imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on a restaurant in connection with a food-poisoning case and ordered compensation of Rs 1,500 each for 14 people who fell ill after consuming chicken egg rolls and chicken momos prepared by the establishment.The DC’s office was informed on Monday that 14 people had developed stomach ache, fever and diarrhoea after consuming food prepared and sold by Babies Online Kitchen in Rangvamual, western Aizawl. The establishment is owned and operated by Irene Zothansangi.Laboratory tests conducted by the Department of Microbiology at Zoram Medical College detected pathogenic organisms in the food sample. Stool samples from all 14 affected people also tested positive for the same pathogen, indicating that the food was the source of the illness, according to the order.The establishment was also found to be operating without a valid licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in contravention of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. A show-cause notice was issued to the proprietor on Nov 4.The case was heard at the deputy commissioner’s office on Monday, with the designated officer (food safety) of the state directorate of health services participating in the proceedings. The order said the contraventions had been established on the basis of the material on record.A penalty of Rs 20,000 was imposed on Zothansangi for operating the food business without a valid FSSAI licence, in violation of Section 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.She was also ordered to pay compensation of Rs 1,500 to each of the 14 affected people, totalling Rs 21,000, under Section 65(1) of the Act. The compensation must be paid at the earliest and no later than two weeks from the date of the order.Both amounts are to be deposited with the designated officer (food safety), directorate of health services, Mizoram govt. The officer will arrange for the compensation to be disbursed to the 14 affected people and take further necessary action.
