KRISHNAGIRI: The health department and food safety department jointly conducted inspections at chicken and mutton stalls and hotels in Kelamangalam on Wednesday. Health department sources said a team led by Kelamangalam Block Medical Officer Dr C Rajesh Kumar and Kelamangalam Food Safety Officer Prakash inspected seven chicken and mutton stalls, six hotels and a tea shop.
During inspection, the health department found that stalls were not maintained hygienically, and contaminated water was used in stalls, which became a source for mosquito breeding. Following this, the health department served notices to seven persons seeking explanations under the Tamil Nadu Public Health Act. Similarly, the food safety department also lifted food samples, but FSO Prakash refused to share further details.
Meanwhile, following widespread social media traction of the issue by the health department team, people from the Hosur block also requested authorities to conduct such joint inspections in their area. When TNIE contacted Krishnagiri's Designated Officer of the Food Safety Department, Dr V Senthil Kumar, he said, "During the inspection, notices were served to two shops as they had expired spices kept in the shop. Apart from Kelamangalam, the food safety department raided shops in Krishnagiri, Pochampalli, Bargur and Denkanikottai, seized around 20 kg of banned tobacco products from four shops, and they were fined Rs 25,000 each."