Kerala Food safety raids to be recorded

Thiruvananthapuram: With the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) pulling up food safety authorities for irregularities during food safety raids in the state, the Kerala Commissionerate of Food Safety has made video-graphing or mobile recording mandatory for every food safety raid to ensure transparency.

For ensuring best hygienic practices at eateries and the availability of safe food during Onam festival season, the Commissionerate has launched special drive across the state.  

The commissioner of food safety has given strict instructions to the squads to record the raids to avoid complaints. According to officials, they would continue inspection till September 14.

The squads would ensure the quality of milk, edible oil, pappadam, payasam mix, Jaggery, ghee, vegetables, fruits, meat, tea and cereals.  Special squads will carry out night-time inspections at check posts.

"Normally we don't film every raid we carry out. If the conditions of the restaurant are worse or if there is any dispute we shoot and keep a video record on the raid. Keeping a visual record would help improve transparency and avoid allegations later," said an official.

The official said that strict action would be taken against eateries operating under unhygienic conditions or without a license or registration.

"The list of such eateries ordered to be closed down by the squads would be provided to the nearest police station," said the official.

The Commissionerate has also granted permission to hire an adequate number of vehicles to facilitate the special squad.

In the first phase of the special drive launched last week, the squads inspected 1,334 food business establishments and collected fine to the tune of Rs 5, 72,500.  

The squads served improvement notices to 563 eateries and collected 72 statutory samples and 122 surveillance samples.

Around 22 eateries were shut down for non-compliance of food safety rules.