THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There has been no change in the unhygienic atmosphere in hotels and restaurants even amid the inspections by the health department and the food safety department. Several hotels, including a hostel mess and a hospital canteen, were closed down in the state following inspections in five districts.

Food inspections were held in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Idukki, Palakkad and Kasaragod. The authorities have seized stale food, fish and meat from various hotels in these districts.

25 kilogram of stale fish was caught from a private hospital canteen and a hostel mess in Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram. In addition, stale oil and parotta were also found from there.

Stale food has been seized from some bar hotels in Nedumangad town as well. An unlicensed hotel in Thiruvananthapuram was shut down.

Food items about a month old were seized in an inspection focused around the hotels along the national highway in Kochi. It was found that certain hotels prepared food in unhygienic conditions.