Report

On Wednesday, Kerala Health Minister Veena George announced that the government would take strict action against those who compromise food safety. During the inauguration of a microbiology lab at the Government Analyst’s Laboratory within the food safety department, George emphasized, “Preventing diseases is as important as addressing them. Nutrition plays a crucial role in maintaining good health, and tampering with food is a serious crime against society.”

Growth of the Food Safety Department

Under the current administration, the food safety department has expanded significantly. When the government first took office, the state lacked a microbiology laboratory, and the existing laboratory system handled inspections. To address this, the government established new microbiology laboratories in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode. “In addition to the Rs 4.5 crore provided by FSSAI, the state allocated its funds to set up these labs,” George explained. “Thanks to the food safety department’s combined efforts, Kerala has topped the national food safety index for two consecutive years.

Revenue from Fines and Increased Inspections

The department increased food safety inspections three to four times over the past year. In the previous fiscal year, it set a record by collecting fines totalling Rs 4.5 crore—approximately six times the usual amount. It also established mobile inspection laboratories in 14 districts to further improve enforcement.

Technological Advances and New Initiatives

George highlighted that Kerala became the first state in India to complete the integrated assessment by FSSAI NABL. The department introduced several new measures to improve food safety. Consumers can now submit complaints through the department’s grievance portal or the “Eat Right Kerala” mobile application, where they can upload images and videos. The department made health cards mandatory for food vendors and implemented sanitation ratings for food street locations. It also established an intelligence task force to strengthen food safety enforcement.

Conclusion

Kerala’s proactive approach to food safety, with its increasing number of inspections, state-of-the-art laboratories, and modern complaint mechanisms, aims to ensure that food standards are maintained to protect public health.

Source: The Times of India