Report

Officials from the Food Safety and Drug Administration seized 18 kg of cooked meat stored in refrigerators at two non-vegetarian eateries in Erode, Tamil Nadu and disposed of it on Friday. District Designated Officer J. Thanga Vignesh led the inspection team, which included food safety officers Kesavaraj, Selvan, Arun Kumar, and Satheesh Kumar. Over Thursday and Friday, the team inspected more than 10 biryani shops and non-vegetarian restaurants across the city.

Cooked Meat Seized During Surprise Inspections

During the inspections, the officials found improperly stored cooked meat and disposed of it using phenyl. They issued notices to the establishments, seeking explanations, and collected food samples for further testing. Authorities clarified that while storing raw meat in refrigerators is allowed, keeping cooked meat in the same manner is not permitted. The team also fined two eateries ₹3,000 each for maintaining unhygienic kitchen conditions.

Strict Action Warned for Food Safety Violations

Mr. Thanga Vignesh stated that inspections were ongoing across the district at non-vegetarian eateries. He warned that the department would take strict action against establishments found violating safety standards—such as storing expired meat, using synthetic food dyes, adding flavor enhancers like ajinomoto, or using substandard ingredients. He also urged the public to report food safety concerns by calling 94440 42322 or using the Food Safety Department’s consumer app.

Source: The Hindu