Lack of infrastructure hits food safety dept.

No food safety officers for Nadapuram, Beypore, Kuttiady

Soon after a four-year-old boy died of suspected food poisoning after eating jelly candy from a bakery about a month ago, the food safety officials and the health section of the Kozhikode City Corporation raided bakeries and shops selling sweetmeats in the city.

The next day, there was a report from Vadakara about a worm being found in an evening snack. The food safety officials had to discontinue their examination in the city. Reason: The department has only one vehicle and it had to be sent to Vadakara for inspection.

According to a senior official, the functioning of the Food Safety Department in the district has been hindered by lack of infrastructure such as these and staff shortage.

“The only vehicle we have is old too. As it breaks down frequently, we are forced to depend on private or other vehicles,” the official said.

Sources in the department said that the department has offices in all Assembly constituencies. However, instead of 13 food safety officers, there are only 10. Nadapuram, Beypore, and Kuttiady constituencies do not have food safety officers.

No permanent offices

Also, there are no permanent offices in Kuttiady, Nadapuram, Beypore, Thiruvambady, and Balussery circles.

The offices for Kunnamangalam and Elathur are functioning in the district office itself.

The Perambra circle office is operating from the same premises of the Koyilandy circle office.