Squads Intensify Surprise Inspections

Food Safety department squads have stepped up surprise inspections at wayside eateries, restaurants, bakeries, and confectioneries across the Kozhikode district to curb the use of banned synthetic food colourants. Five regional Food Safety Squads now carry out these flash checks, focusing on food outlets near schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.

Offenders Face Fines and Closures

Squad members confirmed that they fined the owners of four eateries for selling substandard food. They also shut down another shop that sold unhygienic food. Within a few days of launching the special drive, squads under 13 circles covered over 100 locations. They issued notices to more than 10 units caught committing minor violations, instructing them to fix the problems immediately. Officials collected 37 food samples during inspections for detailed lab analysis. The squads aim to detect unsafe additives and poor hygiene practices through these tests.

Past Drives Exposed Major Violations

Last month, the pre-monsoon checking drive by Food Safety squads in Kozhikode uncovered several restaurants and food outlets operating in unhygienic conditions. Inspectors shut down eight restaurants on the spot and served notices to another 12 cool bars for serious breaches of food safety regulations.

Source: The Hindu