Following a two-day special campaign, the Food Safety Department closed six hotels and fined up to 68 food outlets across 14 assembly constituencies in the Ernakulam district.
Operation was conducted on last Wednesday and Thursday on the direction of Health Minister Veena George, aimed to ensure no food safety rules were violated in hotels and food outlets and to warn and act against establishments that failed to follow rules.
“As many as 387 food outlets were inspected by 14 squads. Around 68 outlets were fined, and six were closed down. We issued rectification notices to 93 outlets with improper cleanliness and hygiene,” said Adharsh, the department’s nodal officer in Ernakulam.
Additionally, the department fined on guilty outlets Rs 1.8 lakh.
During the inspection, officials found that several hotels were using milk, spices, and expired food products in their cooking.
Adharsh added that other than stale food, especially al-faham, they seized stale chicken that was not frozen properly, spices without any labeling, 236 packets of expired milk, fresh cream, chutney, and grapes that could lead to food poisoning.
39 surveillance samples were sent for examination, he said.
Veena, in the meantime, urged staff members of establishments that prepare, serve, and sell food to apply for health cards.
“People working in hotels and other establishments should get health cards within four weeks. Strict action will be taken against those who fail to get it,” she said on Facebook recently.
Following the death of a youth in Mavelipuram last October, everyone has been cautious and alert, and the number of food poisoning cases reported from the areas has gone down,” Adharsh said.
Date : Sunday, 28 July 2024
Time : 10 am to 05 pm
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