Kochi: With the state intensifying its food safety inspections, one-tenth of shawarma shops have been closed in Kerala. During the monsoon inspections by the Food Safety Department, the squads inspected 512 shawarma shops over one and a half months, resulting in the suspension of 52 establishments and over 100 firms being issued cautionary notices.

In Ernakulam district, inspections in April and May covered 57 shops. Notices were issued to 19, and six were ordered to close. Within two months, fines totaling Rs 88,500 were levied against shawarma shops in Ernakulam alone. Similar trends are observed across other districts in the state.