T'puram: The food safety department carried out inspections at catering units in northern Kerala and operations of 10 establishments were stopped due to lack of legal licences and violations of food safety standards.
The inspections were done for three days from Nov 21 in the districts under the northern zone — Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kannur, Wayanad, and Kasaragod.A total of 186 establishments were inspected by dividing the districts into 28 squads. The inspections were carried out in response to food poisoning incidents and complaints related to catering units operating during various events in the region. The inspections are going on in other areas.
For detailed examination, statutory samples were collected from 24 establishments and sent to labs for testing. Notices regarding fines were issued to 45 establishments with identified deficiencies. Rectification notices to 40 establishments, and improvement notices to six establishments were also sent.
Licences, medical fitness certificates of staff, water testing reports, pest control guidelines, general hygiene, materials used for cooking, and methods of food transportation in catering units were subjected to strict inspection.
The inspections were carried out under the coordination of the state food safety commissioner, with the leadership of food safety joint commissioner Jacob Thomas, food safety deputy commissioner Aji S, food safety assistant commissioner Zakir Hussain and FSO Joseph Kuriyakose.