AHAR plans standard protocol for handling food-safety complaints, social-media threats and alleged extortion
Mumbai’s restaurant industry is planning to introduce a standard operating procedure (SOP) for handling food-safety complaints, social-media threats and alleged blackmail attempts against food business operators.
The move follows an alleged extortion attempt involving the owner of Radha Krishna, a Borivli eatery that had faced action from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Members of the Indian Hotel & Restaurant Association (AHAR) and the restaurant’s owners met on Wednesday to discuss how establishments should respond to similar incidents.
The proposed SOP is expected to provide restaurants with a structured approach to complaints involving food safety, viral social-media content and threats of approaching regulatory authorities for monetary demands.
The development comes as restaurant operators seek to establish a common response mechanism while ensuring that genuine food-safety complaints continue to be addressed through the appropriate regulatory channels.
AHAR members also extended their support to the Radha Krishna owners during the meeting and discussed measures to help food businesses deal with alleged attempts to use food-safety concerns or social-media exposure to demand money.
The proposed protocol could provide restaurant operators with clearer guidelines on documenting complaints, escalating genuine food-safety concerns to the relevant authorities and responding to alleged threats or extortion attempts.
source: Mid-Day
