Food poisoning: Presence of salmonella and shigella detected in shawarma sample, says Veena George

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister Veena George said that the presence of salmonella and shigella was detected in the shawarma sample collected from Cheruvathur in Kasaragod. The test results were obtained from chicken shawarma and pepper powder collected from a shop complained to have caused food poisoning. The minister said the presence of pathogenic salmonella and shigella in chicken shawarma and the presence of salmonella in pepper powder were detected. These samples are certified as 'unsafe' under the Food Safety Act. Therefore, further action will be taken, the minister said.

Meanwhile, the minister said in a statement that 349 inspections were carried out today as part of the 'Nalla bhakshanam nadinte avakasham' (Good Food is the Right of the State) campaign. Action was taken against 32 shops which were not licensed or registered. Notices were issued to 119 institutions. 22 kg of unclean meat was seized and destroyed. 32 samples were sent for testing.

In the last 6 days from the 2nd of this month till date, 1132 inspections have been carried out across the state. Action was taken against 142 shops which were not licensed or registered. Notices were issued to 466 institutions. 162 kilograms of unclean meat were seized and destroyed. The minister said 125 samples had been sent for testing.

So far 6035 kg of stale and chemically contaminated fish have been destroyed as part of Operation Fish. Out of 4010 tests during this period, 2014 samples were collected and sent for testing. As part of Operation Jaggery, which was launched to detect adulteration in jaggery, 458 establishments were inspected. 5 statutory samples of jaggery were collected for expert laboratory testing. Notices have been issued to 6 persons. The minister said the inspections would continue vigorously