KOZHIKODE: The food safety officials are set to carry out week-long inspections across the state to check the use of impure drinking water for preparing food and juices. The move is to put an end to the use of unhygienic water in eateries.
A special food safety squad from one district will carry out inspection in a neighbouring district to avoid allegations of corruption.
"Quality of water used for preparing food, the water resources used by hotels and juice parlours and roadside eateries will be inspected," said an official with food safety department who did not want to be identified. The attempt is to prevent jaundice and other diseases during summer, he said adding that the date of the drive could not be divulged as it would affect the result of the inspections.
The use of unhygienic drinking water for preparing ice and juice is common in summer, owing to the shortage of pure drinking water.
Many organizations and consumer groups have also come up with the demand for regular inspections at juice parlours, hotels and roadside vendors to ensure the quality of drinking water they use. Besides, videos and photographs on the use of chemical for ripening, sweetening and adding texture to fruits is also a cause of concern to consumers. The seizure of 1,000kg artificially ripened mangoes and 150kg calcium carbonate from Kannur had caused much panic.
In the backdrop of the incident in Kannur and taking into account the general trend of using chemicals for artificially ripening fruits, especially mangos, we have appointed persons to keep regular tab on warehouses were these fruits are stored in the district, said an official. The support of traders and residents near these warehouses are also sought to detect the use of chemicals.
"As it is not easily possible to detect the presence of chemical by testing ripe fruits, measures are taken to prevent its use," said the official. Guarding the warehouses, frequent inspections and checking whenever a new load of fruit reaches the district has created awareness among the traders, the official said adding that they had not detected the use of chemical for ripening in Kozhikode so far .
Inspections to check adulteration of grains and milk will also be carried out ahead of Vishu.
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