Introduction

District health officials inspected a hotel in Maradu, Kochi after they discovered that stale biryani had been served. On Thursday night, they found 11 parcels of biryani in poor condition. A family who consumed the biryani suffered from diarrhoea and sought medical treatment, while others avoided it due to an unpleasant odour. The officials collected food samples for laboratory analysis and announced plans for ongoing inspections at food establishments in Maradu.

Analysis

The inspection revealed that the hotel prepared the biryani under unhygienic conditions, resulting in a ₹5,000 fine. Food safety authorities have also filed a formal complaint against the same establishment. With many job seekers and students residing in Maradu, residents have increasingly called on district health officials for stricter and more frequent health inspections in the area.

In a similar incident, the food safety department booked over 180 establishments in the district for various violations discovered during a special drive conducted during the Onam season. The inspection conducted on groceries, bakeries, and eateries, revealed that 185 establishments were violating food safety regulations.