Bizarre order: Kerala health dept bars public display of seized stale food, discourages media reporting

Thodupuzha, Idukki: In a bizarre order, the Kerala Health Department has instructed officials that any food items seized during inspections of restaurants and eateries should not be publicly displayed. The order prohibits sharing information about seized food with the media.

The unusual instruction emphasises that information about confiscated substandard or spoiled food should remain confidential.

The order, issued on October 23, aims to tighten inspections and enforcement measures, but it has raised eyebrows among some officials. As a result, when expired or poor-quality food is seized, the information is not being shared with the press, and all actions are to be carried out discreetly.

The directive also states that strict action must be taken against establishments distributing unhygienic food. However, it questions the rationale of allowing such actions to remain hidden from public view. Officials argue that media coverage of food safety violations plays a crucial role in ensuring quality standards are maintained.

Some health department employees have expressed concern that this confidentiality could allow restaurant owners to bribe officials to avoid action.