Food safety inspections in Kozhikode district have resulted in fines over ₹16 lakh against eateries over the past three months, with officials detecting violations including unhygienic food preparation, storage of stale ingredients and failure to follow basic hygiene requirements.

The aggressive inspections mostly covered hotels, bakeries, wayside eateries and other local food establishments. The action comes amid directions from the Food Safety Department requiring food handlers to wear gloves and hair caps while preparing and serving food.

Officials have also exposed food being prepared in unhygienic vessels and with corroded equipment, as well as food sold in areas where contaminated water accumulates. Poor handling practices have also been found to increase the risk of contamination by bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, which can cause serious illness.

“A recent inspection at a food establishment near Malabar Christian College in the city found food items that had reportedly been stored for several days. The items included stale curries, spices, spice mixes, fruits, vegetables, bread and chapatis,” said an official who was part of the inspection. He said similar violations were detected during recent inspections at the Beach Food Street in which one outlet was ordered to shut down, while six others were served notices.

According to the Food Safety Department squads, the inspections are being conducted as part of ‘Operation Thelima’, a special drive launched by the State government across the State. Six mobile squads have been deployed for checking violation on a regular basis and initiate instant action.

Officials make it clear that under the Food Safety and Standards Act, penalties vary according to the nature of the violation. The reported provisions include fines of ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh for supplying food that does not meet prescribed standards and penalties for unhygienic food preparation, misleading advertisements, adulteration and operating without a valid licence or registration. More serious offences involving food poisoning or death may attract imprisonment and fines, depending on the circumstances and applicable provisions, they warn.