52 shawarma outlets shut over food safety violations in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The Food Safety Department conducted inspections at various shawarma outlets across the state on Friday.

Inspections were held at 512 business centres under the leadership of 47 squads. The authorities shut down 52 establishments that did not follow proper standards.

Compounding notices were issued to 108 firms and rectification notices to 56 establishments. Action has been taken against 40 firms that distributed the parcel without proper labeling. Health Minister Veena George also stated that strict inspections would continue in the coming weeks. 

The inspection was conducted to ensure that the shopkeepers followed the standards for making shawarma. Outlets preparing shawarma must strictly follow the standards of the Food Safety Department. 

The prepared food should be given to the customer only after affixing a label with the date and time of when the food was prepared and instructions to eat it within one hour. All hotels and restaurants must voluntarily obtain a hygiene rating from the Food Safety Authority.

The State Food Safety Department conducted a total of 4,545 inspections in the month of April 2024 to ensure the distribution of safe food. A fine of Rs 17,10,000 has been levied in various state-wide inspections.

A total of 716 statutory samples were collected by various squads, and 3,479 surveillance samples were also tested. Last month, 71 samples were reported as unsafe and 53 samples as substandard. All together, 32 adjudication cases were filed with respect to misbranded samples.

About 1,605 licenses and 11,343 registrations were issued last month. In the month of April, 65 adjudication cases and 83 prosecution cases were filed, and 477 rectification notices were issued to the institutions after violations were found during inspections.