The health squad of the Kochi Corporation on Tuesday issued notices to eateries functioning on footpaths and other open places in the city under unhygienic conditions as part of its weekly inspection against hotels and food joints.
Outlets selling the Arabic delicacy shawarma in the city came under the scanner for the first time during such a drive following the incident in which a youngster from Thiruvananthapuram died in Bangalore from food poisoning, allegedly after having a shawarma before taking a bus to the garden city.
The health squad of the Corporation was spurred into action after their counterparts in the capital city forced the outlet from which the deceased had bought the delicacy to down shutters.
The drive was launched in the afternoon, and not in the morning as is usual for such raids. This was aimed mainly at targeting shawarma outlets that start operating only during late afternoon and in the evenings.
The drive covered shawarma outlets, hotels, restaurants, and food bunks along the areas near the GCDA Complex, KINCO boat jetty, Ernakulam North, and Palarivattom. A release issued by the Health standing committee of the corporation said that the drive revealed many incidents in which food products were found sold under highly unhygienic conditions, including exposure to dust from nearby roads and smoke emitted by vehicles.
Outlets found operating in open spaces raising serious health concerns were issued spot notices to take corrective measures at the earliest. Closure notice was served on one food bunk near the boat jetty on finding flies in the food items kept for sale.
Health standing committee chairman T.K. Ashraf said that inspections by health squads will be intensified in the coming days. The inspection team was led by health supervisor P.K. Thampy and health inspector B. Sasikumar.
