Food Safety department launches ‘Operation Holiday’ during Christmas-New Year festive season; Minister Veena George says inspection has been intensified

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister, Veena George, informed that on account of Christmas New Year season, the Food Safety department has intensified its inspection. In every district, food safety officials have made special squads for inspection.

The inspection is centered on units making cakes, wines, and other bakery items for the festive season. The minister said that inspection of hotels and restaurants are conducted under the name ‘Operation Holiday’.

The institutions that do not have food safety license will be closed down and they will have to face legal proceedings. In the last three days, inspections were conducted in 1514 institutions. Eight units were closed down, after issuing notice, for functioning without license and for working in unclean conditions.

Notices were issued to 171 institutions for minor lapses and were ordered to rectify it. Another 97 institutions were ordered to pay fine for major lapses.

As part of the inspection, 260 food samples were collected and sent for detailed examination to governmental analytical labs in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode. Action will be taken after receiving the results.