Concern over quality of food served by city-based outlets
The death of a student on account of suspected food poisoning after consuming ‘shawarma’ (wrapped meat rolls) from a restaurant in Thiruvananthapuram has raised safety concerns over street food and wayside cafes in Kozhikode city.
The health officials attached to the State government and the City Corporation have been apathetic to the repeated pleas to ensure the quality of food sold at such outlets, residents say. “Complaints given to health authorities fall on deaf ears. The Heath Inspectors should carry out checks at regular intervals and cancel the licences of hotels if they violated rules. But routine examination of food sample tests have not taken place for a long time,” says P.A. Jaiprakash, a resident of West Hill.
Most of these restaurants do a brisk business in the name of serving Persian and Arabian cuisines. Hotels and restaurants refrigerate leftover food which could be stale and then recycle it using with fresh meat and fish, he says.
Ruksana Gafoor, who was hospitalised after consuming a ‘shawarma’ roll recently, says portions of stale meat resulted in food poisoning. “Sometimes, the garnishing, including salted cucumber and chillies, cause stomach upset,” she says.
Hotel owners say Food Inspectors are reluctant to conduct routine inspections. No checks have been carried out for the last one year, they say.
Health Inspectors are supposed to collect samples of food and water samples from hotels and restaurants but this stopped after State government envisaged the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 from this August. “Unfortunately, we have no powers to initiate legal action against the offenders,” officials say.
Incidentally, the shortage of staff has been impeding the civic body and the district administration in taking action. Only two employees in the health squad are deputed to check food quality in the city, an area of 120 sq.km. Only three personnel are attached to the district-level Chief Food Inspector’s Office. They are expected to cover the district.
Previously, the district-level food advisory committee had formed a squad to check the quality of food and introduce a system to grade hotels in the city. But the pan had to be dropped following stiff opposition from the hotels and restaurant owners association. It had then representatives from the Consumer Protection Council; State Consumer Vedi; City Rationing Office; Kozhikode Corporation; and the Departments of Legal Metrology and Commercial Taxes.
Mr. Jaiprakash says small-scale units (engaged in preparing and distributing snacks) and unauthorised kitchens operate without licence in the city. Some of these units, functioning in unhygienic conditions, supply foodstuff to these restaurants and hotels, he adds.
Residents seek frequent quality checks
Authorities cite poor staff strength
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