Aug 14, 2012

Food safety: Toll-free number a huge hit

The toll-free number 1800 425 1125 at the office of the Commissioner of Food Safety is a huge hit. Just four weeks after its introduction, as many as 871 people have registered complaints through the service. Most of the complaints are against hotels. The service, which is available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., is receiving calls from across the state.
 The office of Food Safety Commissioner, a lesser-known department till recently, started hitting headlines just after the death of Sachin Roy Mathew, allegedly after consuming an Arabian dish ‘Shawarma’.
The office of Food Safety Commissioner launched the toll-free number on July 18, a week after the death of Sachin. The Commissioner has recently issued a directive to all hotels and eating establishments to flaunt the toll-free number at the counter. An employee at the toll-free service will record the name and address of the complainant.
 “Most of the complaints are against the eateries. Some call to file complaints against adulteration in packet foods. After registration, the complaints will be emailed to the Food Safety Officers in the respective districts,” said Prasanth, an the employee at the Food Safety Commission. Asked about the number of cases taken up by the Commission, he said that they were yet to sort out the number of such cases.
 “The Food Safety officers were busy conducting inspections in hotels. District offices will send details of probe to the head office,” he said. Reason behind Death Unclear
 The office of Food Safety Commissioner is yet to ascertain the real cause of death of Sachin. Anil Kumar, joint commissioner of Food Safety, said that they were yet to receive the post-mortem report and chemical analysis report. “Hopefully, we will get the report in a week,” he said.
On the same day of the death of Sachin, almost 10 people here had been hospitalised owing to food poison. However, the authorities are yet to come out with an authentic report on the real cause of death, he said.

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