Food safety drives for state school kalolsavam

KOZHIKODE: The officials of the food safety department in the district will conduct special drives and deploy officials round-the-clock to check the hygiene and quality of the food items and water being served at all types of eatery outlets in the city during the state school kalolsavam . 

The food safety officials here has decided to conduct the inspections and awareness programme prior to the beginning of the school kalolsavam in the wake of special direction received from the office of the commissioner of food safety following the request put forward by the deputy director of education here. The food safety officials will conduct the first drive from January 6 to January 13, covering all the food outlets comprising of make-shift eateries , bakeries, hotels, restaurants and cool bars to ensure that people arriving in the city during the school fest get only quality food. They will conduct inspections to urge the owners to cook only quality food in hygienic condition. The officials will also put up the toll-free number of food safety officer and mobile numbers of respective food inspectors on the notice board so that the public can pass information to the officials in case they find problem regardingthe quality of food or if they are being charged exorbitant prices. 

A control room will also be set up which will function round-the-clock from January 14 to 21 exclusively to cater the needs of the public thronging to the various venues of the school kalolsavam. The second drive will be held from January 14 to 21. Inspections will be conducted at the hotels and make shift eateries functioning near the surrounding areas of the eighteen venues of the school kalolsavam . 

C T Anil Kumar, assistant commissioner, food safety department, said that the first drive to be held from January 6 to 13 aims at regulating the food chain business in the city. "The drive and daily inspections are being conducted to ensure safe food to thousands who will be visiting the city during the art festival time. Five food safety officials and mobile squad of the department will carry out the inspections. Stringent actions will be taken against those who serve low quality food items and water," he said.