Food Manifest 
Key Update
Kerala has intensified food safety inspections ahead of Onam, expanding checks to online food delivery centres, e-commerce warehouses, dark stores and major border checkposts to ensure the quality and safety of food reaching consumers.
Online Food Supply Chains Under Scrutiny
Health Minister K Muraleedharan said officials are inspecting establishments that prepare and deliver Onasadya and other food parcels through online platforms. They are checking raw materials and packaged foods for quality, proper storage, expiry dates, accurate labelling, batch numbers, manufacturing and expiry details, and valid licences.
Officials are also scrutinising pappadams, jaggery, coconut oil, ghee and payasam mix and sending samples to laboratories for testing. Special squads have inspected warehouses operated by Flipkart, BigBasket and Blinkit, completing 80 inspections so far. The department has also intensified checks at hotels, restaurants, catering units and cloud kitchens under its ‘Safe Onam’ campaign.
Border Checks and Special Squads Intensified
Officials are conducting round-the-clock inspections at Aryankavu, Kumily, Walayar, Meenakshipuram and Karali border checkposts. Mobile food testing laboratories are checking vehicles carrying fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products, edible oils, jaggery and other food items entering Kerala. The Onam special squad has conducted 5,016 inspections across the state so far. Authorities issued notices to 705 establishments for violations and recommended fines for 390 units.
The department has warned establishments that violate food safety regulations that they will face strict action under the Food Safety Act. Thiruvonam falls on August 26 this year.
Source: Deccan Herald
