Key Development

The Food Safety Department has launched intensive inspections across Kerala, targeting shawarma outlets over the past two days. This statewide crackdown follows growing concerns about food safety, particularly the handling of meat and eggs in popular street foods like shawarma.

Kozhikode: Inspections, Quality Checks, and Penalties

In Kozhikode, five special squads carried out inspections across eateries in Town, Koduvally, Kunnamangalam, Elathur, and Vadakara. They issued notices to outlets with minor lapses and instructed them to rectify the issues. Establishments with serious violations faced immediate penalties. Over the past three months, officials tested 471 food samples from these areas. Of these, 48 failed to meet safety standards. Some eateries were found using artificial colours in dishes like biryani, manthi, and other meat-based preparations to make them look more appealing. Authorities have initiated action against such unsafe and misleading practices, reinforcing the need for stricter food safety compliance in the region.

Key Safety Concerns in Shawarma Preparation

• Meat, egg-based dishes, and mayonnaise fall under the high-risk category.

• Raw eggs may contain Salmonella. To make mayonnaise safely, food handlers must pasteurise eggs at 60°C for 3–5 minutes.

• They should thoroughly wash and marinate meat, then store it below 5°C. If left at room temperature for more than two hours, meat begins to spoil and poses serious health risks.

Kollam: Spoiled Meat Seized, Legal Action Recommended

Food safety officials in Kollam seized nearly 100 kg of spoiled meat during a flash inspection at a room behind a building near Polayathodu Junction. They found the meat stored in unhygienic conditions — packed in plastic covers and kept in two freezers that did not meet safety standards. The officials discovered the stock while inspecting nearby eateries as part of the ongoing ‘shawarma inspection’ drive. They ordered the meat to be destroyed on the spot. Over the past two days, the department inspected 105 establishments in the district. They found violations in 23 outlets and imposed fines. Officials also recommended cases against four outlets for serious safety breaches, according to Assistant Food Safety Commissioner V.S. Vinod.

Source: Mathrubhumi 

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