Stale food plenty in Kozhikode

KOZHIKODE: The recurring seizure of stale food from many hotels and restaurants in the city has triggered a discussion among foodies on the failure of corporation and food safety department under state in ensuring quality food for the public. It is to be recalled that stale food was recently seized from MRA bakery, the popular Arabic-Chinese restaurant and from Hotel Sangeeth. Both the restaurants were asked to shut down for two days. Chicken, mutton, beef, fried rice and other items with worms and foul smell were seized from the hotels.
Embarrassing the foodies, established brands like Hotel Emerald and Gateway in the city were recently slapped with fines for selling stale and low quality food stuff.

However many of the foodies lamented that though the food safety officials were acting tough considering their limitations, the corporation is yet to take a pro-active role. Noted industrialist C.E. Chakkunni told DC that the bribe being received by many in the corporation has resulted in the ongoing sale of stale food.  There are many among politicians as well as officials who are on the payroll of   hoteliers, he said.     However legal experts are of the opinion that among the faulty eateries caught during raids, only few were booked and subjected to trial at courts.

Adv P.T.S. Unni told DC that according to section 46 of food safety act double fine should be imposed on recurring offenders and operational license of these habitual offenders should be cancelled. "But the present trend is settling the cases after imposing fines", he added. Mr Unni also warned against mushrooming of food production units in rural parts without any registration and monitoring which supply wide variety of food items to small tea shops and hotels. "Majority eateries in the city are not selling food items cooked by them", he added. Corporation standing committee (health) chairperson K.V. Baburaj told DC that the corporation has powers to close down a particular hotel for repeatedly serving low quality food. There are instances of such closures, he said, adding that in future also strict action would be initiated against such eateries.