Kozhikode to get state’s first beach street food centre soon

Kozhikode: Kozhikode beach is all set to get the state’s first beach street food hub. District food safety department with the help of Kozhikode corporation, port department and other government departments are all set to convert Kozhikode beach to a clean street food hub.

The scheme considered to be first of its kind in the state will be set up as a model street food hub, adhering to the guidelines of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

The hub will come up in the Kozhikode beach area situated between beach stretch opposite the Kozhikode corporation office and beach open air stage. The food safety department here has entrusted D G College of Architecture to prepare the blueprint of the food hub and also the design of the vending carts.

All carts will have a unique design with facilities to keep vessels and to store generated waste. The officials will carry out a series of classes on FSSAI Act and hygienic food handling for the 90-licensed vendors at the beach stretch to maintain cleanliness. Proper lighting, drinking water and waste disposal facilities will be ensured by the corporation for the licensed vendors at the beach.

The decision to develop the beach stretch was taken based on the proposal submitted by assistant commissioner of FSSAI through the office of the commissioner of food safety of Kerala. FSSAI had conducted a pre-audit before giving final approval for the development of Kozhikode beach as model clean street food hub in Kozhikode district. Sheena Anilkumar, a resident of Karaparmba said that they refrain from buying snacks and ice creams for children from the street vendors at beach stretch, fearing hygiene. “If the beach gets a FSSAI standard street food hub then the parents will stop worrying about health effects on children due to consumption of street food. We also need more seating facilities and toilet facilities on the beach,”she said. P K Aleyamma, assistant commissioner of food safety Kozhikode said that the civic body with the help of port department and traffic police have already shifted the street vendors on the Kozhikode beach stretch to specific areas marked for vendors on the beach. “The area where street vendors used to carry out their business is now marked as a parking zone. A meeting will be held with D G College of architecture once they submit the blueprint of the model street food hub scheme for its implementation,” she said adding that the project will be implemented through sponsorship. “With the execution of the scheme, street vendors with a license will be allowed to carry out vending business. The scheme aims to ensure healthy, hygienic and quality street food items for consumers which is free from artificial food colours and flavours”, she said adding that project will be executed under the supervision of district collector Sambasiva Rao with the active participation of various government departments.