Use of banned food colours: safety squads intensify checks in Kozhikode

Squads of the Food Safety department have resumed intensive inspections of wayside eateries, restaurants, bakeries, and confectioneries in Kozhikode district to track the use of banned synthetic food colourants.

Five regional squads are now part of the flash inspections, which will mainly cover food-based ventures near schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.

According to special squad members, the owners of four eateries have already been slapped with hefty fines for selling substandard food. Another shop found selling unhygienic food had also been shut down, they said.

The squads formed under 13 circles covered over 100 locations within a few days after launching the special drive. More than 10 units which were caught for minor violations were served notice to rectify the issues. The squad members also collected 37 samples for detailed lab inspections.

Last month, a pre-monsoon checking drive initiated by the Food safety squads was successful in exposing several restaurants and food-based ventures which functioned in an unhygienic ambiance. Eight restaurants were instantly shut apart from serving notices to other 12 cool bars on the charges of grave food safety rule violations.