Eateries under food safety scanner

KOCHI: As the Onam  season has begun, food  units in the district,  including  hotels, bakeries,  catering groups  and those making chips are under the scanner.

The food safety department,  which  launched a state-wide special drive  on August 5 to ensure quality and hygiene of food products, will continue it till August 26.

There have been widespread complaints against the quality of oil used to prepare banana chips, which top the Onam feast menu.

“Due to the special inspection drives during the festival season, food  units are complying with the food safety and quality norms. Since samples are being collected from all units in the state, they can’t bypass the  checks at any point. As part of the special drive, training classes are being given to food production units on food safety, quality, preservation and packaging. Most of the workers and unit owners are ignorant about the health hazards of reheating oil and the use of stale oil,” said  Mr K.V Shibu, assistant commissioner of food safety, Ernakulam.

According to food safety authorities, quality checks have helped  improve the safety and hygiene standards of manufacturing units.

“The increase in the frequency of raids and awareness campaigns have  brought down the cases  of selling adulterated food. Moreover, unit owners  don’t want to be sued for poor quality as it will affect their revenue during the festival days when the demand is high,” said  the official.