Report

The Kerala Food Safety Department inspected 4,451 food businesses across the state as part of Operation Monsoon, a seasonal drive launched to tackle unhygienic food handling during the rainy season. Since the operation began on May 2, officials have closed 80 establishments for serious violations. They issued 592 rectification notices and 433 compounding notices for various food safety lapses.

Thousands of Food Samples Collected

To ensure strict enforcement, authorities collected 1,850 surveillance samples and 1,054 statutory samples from restaurants, food producers, and distributors for lab testing. Special night squads conducted inspections between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., focusing on street food vendors and other businesses active in the evening hours.

Minister Urges Strict Hygiene and Food Safety

Kerala Health Minister Veena George urged all food handlers to maintain clean cooking and storage conditions. She highlighted the need for safe water, proper food handling by online distributors, and extra care by night-time street vendors to prevent health risks during the monsoon.

Source: The Times of India