THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite the fact that there have been instances of people dying after eating food made in restaurants, the failure to take necessary precautions to prevent such situations has become a cause of concern. Even in the case of Thiruvananthapuram native Sachin Roy, who died on July 10, 2012, after consuming shawarma from a restaurant in Vazhuthacaud, no action has yet been taken.
Two persons have died of food poisoning in the last six days. Several people who ate food from restaurants were hospitalized. Kasargod native Anjusree, a second-year undergraduate student of Govinda Pai College, Manjeshwar, died yesterday. Reshmi Raj, a nurse at Kottayam Medical College, died of food poisoning on January 2. While Anjusree fell ill after eating kuzhimanthi, Reshmi Raj fell ill after eating Alfaham.
Devananda, a student of Karivellur AV Smaraka Govt Higher Secondary School, also died due to food poisoning after eating shawarma from Cheruvathur on May 1 last year. On January 1, three members of a family were infected with food poisoning in Nedumkandam, Idukki.
It is alleged that the preparation of Arabian food dishes in unhygienic conditions and without proper cooking is costing human lives. The sale of stale food is also putting human lives at stake.
Lapses in food security
Food safety officials do not bother to check the quality of meat except after a disaster takes place. As per the Food Safety Act, the concerned medical officer should inform the local food safety officer in case of food poisoning. This is to prevent danger to others. However, doctors do not report food poisoning cases to the food safety authority, except in cases of death, as the food safety department has not issued a notification assigning responsibility to doctors.
Where to complain?
The toll-free number of the food safety department nor the official number of the food safety officer in each circle is not yet displayed in many of the restaurants across the state. If someone finds hair, lizards, or cockroaches in the food, or if the food appears to be stale, they can immediately notify food safety officials, the local health department, or the police and turn the food over to them. Toll-free number- 1800 425 1125.
Thiruvananthapuram-0471 2322833, 2322844.
Deaths
2012: Sachin Roy (Ate Shawarma)
2021: Devananda - (Ate Shawarma)
2022(Jan 2)- Reshmi Raj- (Ate Alfaham)
2022 (January 7) - Anjusree - (Ate Kuzhimanthi)