Unhygienic food sales in Nepal raise alarm

Shashi Thapa, a student and logistics worker in Nepal, has suffered food poisoning twice in four months, highlighting a growing public health concern. Like many urban dwellers who depend on eateries for most meals, Thapa experienced severe symptoms after eating at a local restaurant.

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I ate fish and nan bread at a local eatery near my room for dinner. That night I couldn’t sleep because of loose motion and nausea. I had a fever the next day.

Government officials acknowledge a rise in food contamination cases across Nepal's cities, though exact figures are unavailable. Pharmacies report a daily influx of patients with bowel and stomach issues, often linked to consuming food outside the home. Ecolife Pharmacy in Tinkune, for example, sees 15-20 patients daily with gut problems, with 10-12 cases attributed to food poisoning.

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The patients usually say that they eat something outside. Most of the visitors are adults and children.

Inspections by the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection reveal a significant problem. Last fiscal year, 59 out of 261 inspected hotels and restaurants were found selling unhygienic food, resulting in Rs4.2 million in fines. The year before, 44 out of 201 inspected establishments faced similar penalties. Anil Kirati, director of the Commerce Department, stated that fines range from Rs200,000 to Rs300,000 for selling substandard food, noting a recent surge in consumer complaints.

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We provide them with oral rehydration and medicine to control diarrhoea and vomiting, and recommend going to hospital if the medicine does not help.