LAHORE, Dec 15; Punjab Tourism Minister and District Food Committee chairman Aslam Iqbal has ordered cancellation of Ambassador Hotel’s licence and prosecution of Avari and Pearl Continental’s managements for failure to maintain the standard of hygiene prescribed in the pure food law.

The minister issued the orders during an inspection of kitchens of these hotels along with the city district government food squad and the executive district officer (health). As many as 27 samples of tomato ketchup, butter, vegetable ghee, soya sauce and food colours were collected and sent to the laboratory for analysis.

The minister found Ambassador’s kitchen floor dirty and smell emanating from meat. Pulses and spices were stored in plastic containers and lead foils had been used on foodstuffs instead of silver. He got the meat destroyed on the spot.

He expressed dissatisfaction over the cleanliness conditions in the kitchens of the other two hotels and ordered the managements to get the cooking utensils silver coated. He got the salad found in Avari’s kitchen destroyed.