Om Hospital Canteen Shut Down for 7 Days Over Food Safety Violations
Om Hospital Canteen Shut Down
4th October 2025, Kathmandu
Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has taken decisive action against food safety lapses in a major healthcare facility.
Om Hospital Canteen Shut Down
Following an inspection that revealed severe negligence, KMC ordered the Om Hospital Canteen Shut Down for seven days. The enforcement came after a joint monitoring team from KMC and the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) conducted surprise checks on several hospital canteens on Tuesday.
This stringent measure underscores the authorities’ commitment to ensuring safe and responsible food businesses, especially within sensitive environments like hospitals.
Catalogue of Food Safety Breaches
The inspection team, led by Food Technologists Anil Basnet and Ashok Parajuli, found the canteen at Om Hospital in Chabahil severely lacking in hygiene and compliance. Technologist Anil Basnet detailed the alarming list of violations discovered during the inspection:
- Gross Environmental Unsanitation: The overall environment within the canteen was unhygienic and severely lacking in cleanliness.
- Use of Prohibited Substances: Officials discovered the uncontrolled use of food coloring, a practice often linked to non-compliant ingredients and potential health risks.
- Expired Products: The canteen stored and used expired consumables, posing an immediate threat to consumer health.
- Unlabeled Foods: Numerous food items lacked proper labeling or use-by dates, making traceability and safety impossible to verify.
- Pest Control Issues: The management of pests (insects and rodents) was deemed unsatisfactory, highlighting a systemic failure in basic hygiene management.
These findings confirmed blatant disregard for fundamental food safety protocols, leaving the KMC with no option but to order the Om Hospital Canteen Shut Down.
Lack of Business Registration Adds to Penalty
Further compounding the violations, Food Technologist Ashok Parajuli reported that the canteen operator had also failed to register the business legally. This lapse means the operator was functioning outside of all formal regulatory oversight.
The metropolitan city immediately issued an order to suspend the canteen’s operation for seven days. The operator must present themselves to the KMC within this period with a clear written explanation regarding all the violations. The suspension serves as a punitive measure and a demand for immediate corrective action and compliance.
Hospital Administration Responds to the Crisis
Bipin Jangam, the Administrative Manager for the Om Hospital administration, acknowledged the incident. He confirmed that the hospital has already initiated steps to change the canteen operator responsible for the failures.
Jangam stated that the canteen would only be allowed to resume operations once the hospital is fully satisfied that all food hygiene and safety standards have been demonstrably ensured and regulatory compliance is met.
This rapid response by the hospital administration seeks to mitigate the public concern caused by the Om Hospital Canteen Shut Down and reassure patients and staff of their commitment to food safety going forward.
KMC’s Commitment to Regulatory Oversight
The joint monitoring effort by KMC and DFTQC is part of an ongoing, regular campaign. The goal is to proactively ensure that all food businesses—including hospitals, hotels, restaurants, and independent canteens—operate in a clean, responsible, and legally compliant manner.
This vigilance protects public health by forcing businesses to adhere strictly to food safety laws, making the urban food supply chain safer for everyone.
For more: Om Hospital Canteen Shut Down
