Key Update

The Commissionerate of Food Safety in Kerala has launched a statewide enforcement drive to curb the health risks linked to repeatedly heated cooking oil. Through the two-day special drive, Operation Thelima, food safety officials targeted eateries and food businesses that repeatedly reuse frying oil.

Repeatedly heating cooking oil changes its chemical composition and increases the concentration of Total Polar Compounds (TPC) and other harmful degradation products. To prevent businesses from serving food prepared with degraded oil, the department has intensified inspections across Kerala.

Operation Thelima Inspects 1,834 Food Businesses

During the two-day drive, 142 special squads inspected 1,834 food business establishments across the state. The teams focused on roadside eateries, thattukadas, tea shops, snack-making units, and other businesses that use large quantities of oil for frying.

The inspection teams identified food safety violations at several establishments and shut down 74 eateries. Officials also instructed food businesses to follow food safety requirements and handle degraded cooking oil responsibly.

Repeated Heating Changes Cooking Oil

When businesses repeatedly heat the same cooking oil, the oil undergoes chemical changes. This process increases the concentration of Total Polar Compounds (TPC) and other degradation products.

Food safety standards prohibit businesses from using cooking oil with TPC levels above 25% for food preparation. The department has therefore instructed food businesses to monitor the quality of frying oil and prevent degraded oil from entering the food chain. Businesses that continue to reuse oil after it reaches unacceptable quality levels can put consumers at risk. Regular monitoring can help food operators identify degraded oil and replace it before it affects food safety.

Food Safety Officials Warn Businesses

Food safety officials have urged eateries and other food businesses to stop repeatedly reusing frying oil simply to reduce operating costs. They have also asked businesses that carry out large-scale frying to monitor oil quality regularly and dispose of degraded oil appropriately. The department has stressed that businesses must prioritise food safety over commercial convenience. Officials have also warned food operators that they will face legal action if they ignore food safety requirements.

Department to Continue Inspections

The Commissionerate of Food Safety will continue to inspect food businesses across Kerala to identify violations involving the reuse and degradation of cooking oil. Officials will also take strict legal action against businesses that fail to follow food safety standards. Through Operation Thelima, the department aims to discourage unsafe oil-reuse practices and encourage food businesses to maintain better control over the quality of cooking oil. The continued inspections will also help authorities keep degraded cooking oil out of the food chain and protect consumers from avoidable food safety risks.

Source: The New Indian Express