Corpn. steps up food safety drive

The eateries that had minor problems were issued warning and were fined.

Shops without proper licence will not be allowed to function, says Mayor

The Kozhikode Municipal Corporation will set up a permanent facility to conduct inspections on eateries and food processing units in the city, in the wake of large scale irregularities found during inspections carried out by the Health Department recently.

Mayor Thottathil Raveendran told reporters here on Friday that shops that did not have a proper licence would not be allowed to function.

A set of rules had been prescribed for the eateries with regard to preparation and storage of food, which if found neglected would be severely dealt with, he said.

The Corporation’s health wing along with Food Safety officials had conducted inspections in around 160 eateries in the city, of which three have been issued closure notice as they were found to be operating under unhygienic conditions.

Eateries fined

The eateries that had minor problems were issued warning and were fined. The Corporation has collected Rs.21,000 as fine in the last two days. Roadside food vendors are also under the scanner of the Corporation’s health officials.

Mobile units evicted

All the mobile eateries parked along the Kozhikode Beach Road were evicted during Wednesday’s drive. It was noted that most of them were not licensed.

“Thousands of people come to the beach every evening and they have been taking food from these eateries. From the ice and water they use to the fruits and vegetables as well as oil used for frying, everything was unhygienic. This cannot be allowed, with so many contagious diseases spreading,” the Mayor said.

Health standing committee chairman K.V. Baburaj said a special squad would be formed to conduct flash raids on a regular basis.

“Keeping food items open, usage of industrial ice in eateries and parking mobile eateries on the roadside at night will be strictly prohibited. A health card will be made mandatory for employees of all eateries and baking units. They should undergo timely check-up and should be granted leave from duty when they are sick. We cannot allow people with contagious diseases to prepare food that thousands of people eat,” Mr. Baburaj said.

Closure notice issued to three eateries in city found operating under unhygienic conditions