Need joint effort to make Kerala a place for safe food: Minister Veena George

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health minister Veena George sought the support of everyone to make the state a safe-food place. "The cooperation of all establishments like hotels and restaurants, the chefs and other workers employed in these establishments and those who distribute and sell food is necessary to make our state a place for safe food," she said.

The minister said a large action programme has been charted out to make the state a safe food destination. According to FSS Act, all food establishments should have registration or licence, health card for employees, ensure training, hygiene rating, mobile app and strong awareness to ensure safe food, etc, are the steps being carried out by the government for this.

All food establishments are bound to comply with the norms under the FSS Act. Adulteration of food is a criminal offence and hence maximum legal action will be taken. Once the licence of an establishment is suspended, the licence can be renewed only after the approval of the food safety commissioner. A special officer has been appointed at the office of the commissioner of food safety to speed up legal follow-up related to food safety, she added.

The minister warned of strict checks and actions in the state from February 1. Firms that do not have a license or registration should get a licence as soon as possible. Health card has been made mandatory and hence it has to be ensured by all establishments. Failure to do so will result in legal action, including suspension of licence of the establishment. Each establishment shall designate one person for sanitation supervision. Food-safety training for employees has also been made mandatory.

The food safety department is implementing hygiene rating and street food hub in the state. At present, 785 establishments have achieved the hygiene rating of the food safety department. Details of establishments that have received hygiene certificates will be made available on the website of the food safety department. The food safety department's mobile app will reach people as soon as the technical approval is received. Through this, people can know the nearby hotels with hygiene rating and complain, George said.

A five-member special task force (intelligence) headed by the deputy commissioner of food safety has started functioning for special inspection of food safety in the state, she added.