In the wake of the death of a youth owing to suspected food poison, the district unit of the Food Safety and Standards Authority conducted massive raids at various parts of the district on Wednesday.
Raids were part of the state-wide operations launched against the violators of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, following the death of Sachin Roy Mathew, who is suspected to have died after consuming Shawarma from a restaurant in Thiruvananthapuram.
Food Safety and Standards Department designated officer of the district David John said that 30 kg of rotten meat was seized from a baking house at Varisseri in the town. The meat was kept for making bakery products like puffs and chicken-rolls. The shop is owned by Kasim, a native of Kannur.
The officers also seized 10 kg of Shavarma which was kept in unhygienic conditions from Kurisumood, near Changanasery.
Though the authorities conducted inspection at various hotels in the town here, Medical College and Changanassery, no other case of violation was found.
“We have already sent notices to four hotels that did not comply with the hygienic measures stipulated by the authorities,” David John said. Two hotels near the Medical College, and one at Thengana near Changanassery were issued notices for improving hygienic conditions.
The team also conducted inspection at a confectionery factory in Kurichy panchayat and collected samples of various confectioneries for detailed examination.
David John said that the seized food products from the bake house has been destroyed and samples collected from there would be sent to the Food Safety Commissioner of the state. If the products lack the required quality, the owner of the shop can be penalised or even imprisoned.
Changanassery Food and Supply officer P B Ravindran Nair, Municipal Food Inspectors Shine, Prathibha Kumari and S Aji were part of the inspection team.
The Food Safety authorities, together with the Health Department, had conducted similar inspections a week ago and seized rotten food.