KOCHI: The high court has asked the food safety commissioner to respond to a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging laxity in implementing food safety measures. A PIL filed by M S Ajithkumar of Kareepra near Kundara in Kollam is being considered by the court.
Citing the responsibility of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption, the petitioner argues that the measures adopted now are grossly inadequate.
“The number of food safety officers, food analysts and accredited laboratories are alarmingly insufficient …,” the PIL filed through advocate Manu Ramachandran stated.
Even after implementation of the Act, most of the food operations lay outside the licensing or registration regime. As per the Act, all food business operators are required to obtain registration from FSSAI. Health minister’s statement in the assembly that there are only two lakh outlets in Kerala is far from actual truth, the petitioner said.
When the government made vigorous efforts to make Kollam a ‘Safe Food District’, 50,000 food business operators came forward to take registration, the petitioner points out.
Businesses like roadside eateries, those with a turnover of more than Rs 50,000 per day and event management groups that serves food do not have licences. Kollam district has only 11 food safety officers and they can inspect only 6,912 outlets a year. Thus, more than 90% of the operators are not inspected, it is alleged.
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