Food safety squads have been posted in all districts in the State to ensure that there is no sale of the banned Maggi noodles in the State, Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar has said.
The squads would conduct searches at retail outlets for a week from Tuesday to ensure that there is no sale of the products, which was in a controversy after lead was found in quantities beyond permissible limits.
Noodles of all brands would also be subjected to stringent tests, Mr. Sivakumar said here on Monday.
The Minister had earlier chaired a meeting attended by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob and senior officials of the departments concerned here.
More checks
Restaurants and eateries would also be inspected. The State government had issued an order to stop the sale of Maggi noodles through over 1,000 retail outlets in the State.
The Food Safety Commissioner had been asked to submit a report to the government on a daily basis with regard to the searches, the Minister said.
Vegetables from other States would be banned if they were found to have pesticide residues above permissible limits.
Vehicles carrying vegetables would be allowed through check-posts only if they disclosed the sources and markets, he said.
The meeting also decided to take steps to ensure speedy disposal of pending cases relating to adulteration. The Health Secretary had been asked to take steps in this regard in consultation with the High Court Registrar General.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy would be convened to review the report of officials who visited farms from other States from where vegetables were being sourced to Kerala, he said. — PTI
