New Delhi, Aug 30: The kitchen of Tihar Jail is more clean and hygienic than a five star hotel, according to a British national who recently underwent the traumatic experience of food poisoning after eating at a luxury hotel. Ursula Smartt, professor of law and justice at the Thames Valley University and Senior consultant to the British home office, referred to the excellent kitchen and food of Tihar as an example when she and her husband contracted severe food poisoning at a five star hotel in the famous temple city of Khajuraho, in Orissa. “Standing in the appalling so-called five star kitchen, with my muddy boots on and my head uncovered I told them (hotel manager and chefs) the story of having to take my shoes off and my heads to be covered upon entering the Tihar Jail kitchens. That the jail food and tea was a hundred times more edible and hygienic than at the hotel,`` Smartt said in a letter sent to Ajay Agarwal, Director-General of Prison, Tihar Jail. National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Justice J.S. Verma, who visited the prison on Tuesday was also asked to take off his footwear and cover the head before entering the Langar and bakery in the Jail. Impressed by the cleanliness not only in the Kitchen, but all around the jail premises, he said, “Perhaps officials of the Delhi Municipal Corporation should visit Tihar to take lessons on cleanliness.`` During his maiden visit, Justice Verma was told about various reform and rehabilitation programmes undertaken by the prison administration. He also listened to the problems faced by the jail inmates at the ``Tihar Panchayat``. — UNI