Food Safety department fails to check hostel messes in Kozhikode

KOZHIKODE: When the Food Safety department is busy inspecting the quality of food served in the city hotels and way side eateries, it has chosen to keep off the messes in hostels including government-run ones, forcing the inmates to be contended with the substandard food they are served. This is in spite of the numerous complaints the inmates have registered with the department.

The city so far has registered 19 working women’s and men’s hostels, 11 government-run hostels attached to educational institutions and one youth hostel situated near Easthill in addition to the unregistered private ones. “I am paying Rs 4,500 for accommodation and mess in my hostel which is two-decades old,” said Rubeesa Akbar, an employee. “But the food is good only to be dumped in the waste bin. At least ten inmates get worms from the food every day.”

Working women and students from different parts of the state and from other states prefer to stay in hostel that provide cheap accommodation but the quality of food comes as a dampener. “Most city hostels have poor quality food and no officials from the government dare visit them,” said Honey Kuruvilla who has been staying in a private hostel in the city for the last one year.

“The warden has taken no action against the mess manager despite repeated complaints.” Food Safety officials say it is mandatory for all private and college hostels and canteens to register themselves under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006.

“But often we are not able to conduct raids in hostels due to lack of manpower,” said P.K. Eliamma, Food Safety Assistant Commissioner. “The department does not have even one fourth of the staff required to check the institutions.” However, the department has decided to conduct inspections and sample checking, she said. “We shall issue notices to those who found wanting in quality,” she added.