Every eatery needs a hygiene licence from now on

Cooks will need a health card

Henceforth, cooks will have to get health cards to prove that they do not have communicable diseases. In an effort to ensure safe and standard food served to people in eateries and hotels, the state government has made it mandatory for chefs to obtain 'health cards' proving they are free from ailments. Besides, every commercial establishment and vendor associated with cooking and serving of food must obtain 'hygiene licence' from the local administration. 

These decisions are as part of state government's effort to implement the Food Safety and Standards Regulation Act 2006 passed by the Centre. It is to be implemented all across the country. 

Following a meeting with top officials of the health department and food inspectors on Friday, Minister for Health and Family Welfare U T Khader said all hotels ranging from roadside mobile canteens to star hotels must have these licences. 

"We have directed that all chefs must possess health cards issued by district medical officer valid for a year. They will be screened for all kinds of communicable diseases. If chefs do not possess valid cards when the officials raid, the employer will be penalised for the lapse," Khader explained. 

Yuvna Damani of Spoonful of Sugar said, "It is a very important move. I make sure that all my staff gets their health checked every year." 

Ramasamy Salvaraju, executive chef at Taj Vivanta says, "This is a good idea for small hotels, which may not have hygiene practices. In our hotel, all chefs undergo health check-up prior to being inducted. Every year, there is an intensive medical test that we need to go through including sugar, lipid profile and communicable diseases." 

The government has directed that all establishments with an annual turnover of up to Rs 12 lakh to pay Rs 100 and obtain hygiene licences from district food safety officer and those with a turnover of Rs 12 lakh to Rs 30 crore to pay Rs 2,000 for the licences. 

All chefs and helpers at kitchen and serving lounges must wear aprons, hand gloves and caps. Any violations under the Act would incur a fine between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh besides a jail term ranging from six months to seven years.