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Karnataka embarks on stringent drive to check food served across restaurants
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Monday, 02 September, 2024, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Nandita Vijayasimha, Bengaluru
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The Food Safety and Quality department in Karnataka will take up a two-day special campaign to check the food safety violations in hotels and restaurants across the state with immediate effect.
During the campaign, the officials will collect samples of fish, meat and chicken to see if they are safe for human consumption.
According to Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, the officials from the food department will embark on an inspection drive to eateries across the 31 districts and 176 taluks headquarters to check for violation and initiate action.
The department is also working to install 3,400 food test kits in public places for people to get their food tested. This in the case of doubt, if the product is adulterated. Over 1,000 kits will be placed immediately and to be ready for use by the public.
The intent is that the government wants to create an awareness about food safety among the people and encourage them to get their food tested for adulteration if they have any doubts. The Minister for Health also said that from April this year till now 8,418 food samples were collected and of these 2,593 were tested till June.
In July alone, 2,753 samples were collected of which 711 were tested. In addition, the department had also inspected 3,467 hotels since April and notices were issued to 986 outlets for lack of good food practices being observed along with poor hygiene being maintained. A total penalty of Rs 4.93 lakh had been slapped on 142 hotels, said Rao.
So far, 106 cases have been settled in courts across the State, a day’s imprisonment has also been ordered for 34 cases. Five cases were ordered imprisonment of 10, 30, 45 and 60 days. Likewise, 90 days of imprisonment have been ordered in four cases with 6 months imprisonment. Apart from this, in 18 cases, the court has slapped penalties, he informed.
Moreover, fungus growth and high levels of pesticide have also been found on fruits and vegetables in 27 of the 266 samples. A total of 385 samples were collected and 266 of these were tested to check if they were safe for global consumption. Besides, 211 paneer samples and 246 cakes and 67 khova samples picked up have also been tested for which the report is awaited.
Overall, Karnataka food safety department is on a rigorous drive to inspect the outlets and ensure safe food is accessed by its people, said Rao.
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