Kerala CM frowns at unhygienic food sellers; may ban sale of mangoes

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said the State Government will not hesitate to ban the sale of mangoes if traders continue to use harmful ripening chemicals like carbides, which pose potent health hazards to people.

Inaugurating the state-level food safety week here on Monday, Mr Chandy said he would initiate severe action against traders who refused to mend their ways and ensure the sale of healthy and hygienic fruits, vegetables and food to the people. The Government gave top most priority to public health.  

“We have created more vacancies in the food safety department and if required more funds and manpower will be allotted to ensure safe food for the people,” said Mr Chandy.
Health Minister V S Sivakumar, presiding over the function, said directions had gone out to top officials of the commissionerate of food safety to talk to authorities in Andhra, Karnataka and Tamilnadu from where fruits were coming in.

Food safety week awareness campaigns across the State would enlighten the people on harmful effects of artificially ripened mangoes and misuse of chemicals to extend shelf life of vegetables and fruits.

The authorities have also decided to intensify inspections at check posts to prevent the flow of contaminated vegetables, meat products, fish and edible oils.

Meanwhile, the deadline for the food businesses to get the mandatory license and registration from the commissionerate of food safety ends on August 5. However, a large number of operators are yet to take the license.  

Health Minister V S Sivakumar said over 29,000 food business operators had taken food safety licences and around 1.58 lakh operators had taken the registrations.  Around Rs 13 crore was collected by the commissionerate of food safety as license and registration fee. Authorities collected over Rs 29 lakh fine in raids and inspections.

Efforts are on to put in place an online mechanism for food licensing and registration. The food safety department has included the project under the 100-day programme of the state government.