Kerala Cracks Down on Unsafe Eateries: 82 Establishments Shut Down

Thiruvananthapuram: Following widespread inspections by the Food Safety Department across hotels, restaurants, and street food stalls in Kerala, 82 establishments have been ordered to close down. The department conducted a total of 1648 inspections statewide on Monday and Tuesday.

During these raids, 188 food samples were collected from various establishments and sent to laboratories for testing. In addition to the closures, 264 establishments were issued notices for fines due to other irregularities, 249 received rectification notices, and 23 were given improvement notices. The 82 establishments that were shut down were found operating without proper licenses or in direct violation of food safety standards.

Health Minister Veena George announced that the quality of food, the hygiene of the premises, the quality of water used, and pest control measures were all subjected to rigorous scrutiny during the inspections. She further stated that special squads, each comprising two food safety officers, were formed in every district for these operations and that inspections would continue vigorously. The Health Department warned that in cases where lapses are found, immediate follow-up actions would be taken in accordance with the provisions of the FSS Act 2006 and Rules 2011.