Health officials inspect eateries for adulterated food in Salem

Danger of contamination:Food items kept in the open at a road side eatery near Salem New Bus Stand. -Photo: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

Unlicensed shops have become a cause for concern

Inspection to detect cases of adulteration and expired food items have began in the district after a period of six months.

This was possible only after petitions filed by hotel owners and various associations against provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act were vacated by the Madras High Court last week and health officials were allowed to carry out inspection in eateries and take action, if they found violations.

The Act came into effect throughout the country from August 5, 2011 after the government repealed the Prevention of Food and Adulteration Act 1954 and seven other Acts that were in force.

The new Act makes licensing and registration of food businesses mandatory. The District Designated Officer has been given powers to check food product standards, packaging, labelling and adulteration in restaurants, eateries, small hotels, bakeries, tea stalls and all small and cottage industries.

Mushrooming of unlicensed shops and road-side eateries near New Bus Stand, Old Bus Stand, Bose Maidan, Kallankuthu and Kalarampatti selling chicken, meat and fast food items has become a cause for concern as people throng these eateries and consume unhygienic food.

Though they offer taste, use of non-permitted colours, reuse of cooking oil, poor quality of drinking water, unclean plates and food items kept in the open and exposed to dust pose serious health hazard to the consumers. Such conditions remain unchecked.

The situation can be evident when the dust and smoke emitted by buses near the bus stand are observed by the non-vegetarians that are kept in the open.

It was also said that dead chicken from poultry units were used by a few shops and offered at low price in many eateries.

Digestion problems

After consumption of such food, some people complain of upset stomach and digestion problems that later may lead to serious problems.

Yet, the consumers, mostly labourers and middle class people, though aware of the fact, continue to consume the food.

The situation is worse during monsoon, as the quality of water served causes infectious diseases and adds to the woes.

A few eateries mushroom in the evening and run till late night near drains where mosquitoes breed and spread diseases.

These eateries procure contaminated tap water and serve this to their customers. Though doctors warn people to keep away from these tempting food items that cause serious problems, people continue to consume these foods.

T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, Salem District told The Hindu that initially shop owners were warned of action if they continue adulteration, sell expired food items and use non-permitted colours.

She added that seven shops were raided in the district, including one tea stall in the city, and adulterated tea powders were seized. Action would be taken as per law, if they continue, she said.

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District Designated Officer has been given powers to check food product standards

Use of non-permitted colours and reuse of cooking oil pose health hazards