Only 46 cases of unsafe food in 18 months, govt in HC

KOCHI: In the past one-and-a-half years, a period in which a number of instances of food poisoning reported from different parts of the state, authorities could detect only 46 cases of unsafe food samples that warranted prosecution, the government has informed the high court.

The report also said presence of formalin was detected in fish brought in from other states. Food safety commissioners of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Goa have been asked to take necessary steps immediately to prevent such incidents. For not maintaining necessary standards and hygiene, 18 ice plants in the state were ordered to be closed, the government has submitted.

The government filed an action taken report (ATR) as directed by the court while considering a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking strict implementation of Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 (FSSA). The PIL was filed by advocate Basil Attipetty in the wake of death of a person allegedly after consuming 'shawarma' from a restaurant in Thiruvananthapuram.

According to FSSA, only restaurants that sell food that is unsafe or injurious to health need to face prosecution. If a person dies from consuming unsafe food, the manufacturer or seller can be sentenced to imprisonment that may extend up to a life term and fine of Rs 10 lakh. Sellers of substandard or misbranded food need only to pay a fine, the maximum being Rs 5 lakh.

Government's report to the court stated, "Since August 10, 2012, the date of filing the earlier ATR, 4,753 inspections have been conducted all over the state and 475 statutory samples were collected for analysis. Based on the analytical reports, steps are underway to initiate adjudication process and prosecution steps. Pursuant to analysis, 46 cases of unsafe food samples and 57 cases of substandard/misbranded food samples have been detected."

During the one-and-a-half year period, the government collected Rs 21.84 lakh as fine, the report said. A special drive was conducted in which 1,056 juice stalls were inspected. However, only three stalls were closed down, while 487 stalls were served with improvement notice and Rs 48,500 was collected as compounding fine for not maintaining hygienic conditions, government has informed.