World
Punjabi restaurant in London lauded for food hygiene
London: A Punjabi restaurant here has been hailed for its food hygiene two weeks after it was fined for ignoring food safety laws, a media report said on Friday.
The Moti Mahal restaurant was fined more than 25,000 pounds ($39,000) earlier this month. It now boasts a food hygiene rating of four out of five, according to an inspection by the Food Standards’ Agency.
“I am very pleased to see our action had the desired effect and the business has now achieved a food hygiene rating of four,” London-based Ealing Times quoted councillor Julian Bell as saying.
Four consecutive inspections between 2013 and 2015 gave the restaurant zero or maximum one rating. A number of written warnings were served to the restaurant following the inspections.
In October 2014, the restaurant was temporarily closed after a rodent infestation left mouse droppings in contact with food.
Essence Restaurants Limited, trading as Moti Mahal, appeared a court in Ealing District of West London on August 6. The owner pleaded guilty to five food hygiene offences and was given the maximum fine of 5,000 pounds for each offence.
“This business displayed a disregard for its customers’ safety by ignoring warnings and advice from council officers,” Bell had said at the August 6 hearing.
“The level of this fine reflects the seriousness of the offences and should serve as a warning to all food businesses that we will take tough action if they fail to operate within the rules,” he noted.
On the same day, Ealing Magistrates’ Court also confirmed the council’s decisions to temporarily close two other Ealing businesses.
Earlier this month, an Indian-origin restaurateur in the Scottish city of Aberdeen, was fined 770 pounds ($1,200) for breaching food hygiene standards and failing to comply with the orders at the Aberdeen Sheriff Court.
National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.