KOCHI: As the Onam season has begun, food units in the district, including hotels, bakeries, catering groups and those making chips are under the scanner.
The food safety department, which launched a state-wide special drive on August 5 to ensure quality and hygiene of food products, will continue it till August 26.
There have been widespread complaints against the quality of oil used to prepare banana chips, which top the Onam feast menu.
“Due to the special inspection drives during the festival season, food units are complying with the food safety and quality norms. Since samples are being collected from all units in the state, they can’t bypass the checks at any point. As part of the special drive, training classes are being given to food production units on food safety, quality, preservation and packaging. Most of the workers and unit owners are ignorant about the health hazards of reheating oil and the use of stale oil,” said Mr K.V Shibu, assistant commissioner of food safety, Ernakulam.
According to food safety authorities, quality checks have helped improve the safety and hygiene standards of manufacturing units.
“The increase in the frequency of raids and awareness campaigns have brought down the cases of selling adulterated food. Moreover, unit owners don’t want to be sued for poor quality as it will affect their revenue during the festival days when the demand is high,” said the official.
