Parliament eatery fails hygiene test

Health officials have given the canteen at parliament a poor bill of health, confirming it has a low standard of hygiene after inspecting it in the wake of disturbing reports of rodents running around.

Yesterday’s inspection was led by Dicha Khongsri, assistant chief of Dusit district. It came after a photograph of a rat eating ready-to-serve food in the canteen, which houses a number of restaurants, was shared among officials.

Rats have chewed their way through plywood walls to enter the food area, the inspectors said, adding that food scraps were found scattered on the floor when they visited.

Meanwhile, unruly piles of garbage and clogged drains full of stinking water as well as food scraps were found just outside the canteen, they said.

Food containers inside the canteen were also found to be dirty.

Health officials also collected food samples from restaurants there to test them for food contamination. The results are due out today.

Mr Dicha said demonstrators who rallied at parliament recently prevented garbage collectors from entering the premises. He said he had already informed City Hall of the need to pick up the trash more frequently.

The canteen was so dirty it would take a full day to clean up, the inspectors said.

District officials said they will work with parliament to organise a daylong activity to get this done soon.

Meanwhile, people who handle food at the canteen will receive hygiene training, Mr Dicha said.

Some efforts have already been made to improve standards since the rat photos surfaced, said Chatraporn Wiwatwanit, who handles parliamentary affairs. District office’s workers pick up the trash everyday, she said, adding that sometimes there are overflows caused by big meetings.

There is also a smaller eatery behind parliament building 1 but health officials have not inspected it yet.