The Food Safety department has intensified inspections across the district ahead of Onam to prevent adulterated and substandard food products from reaching the market. Six special squads are on duty now to step up surveillance measures and conduct flash inspections at suspected spots.

Officials with the special squads said 14 establishments that were found operating without the mandatory food safety licence were shut during the recent series of inspections. Checks have also been initiated to cover inter-State border check-posts to ensure the quality of food products entering Kerala.

The special squads have been directed to cover catering establishments, food distributors, retail outlets, supermarkets, and other food businesses to ensure fair operation. Based on laboratory test results, stringent legal actions and hefty fines will be initiated against establishments that violate food safety norms, they asserted.

As many as 369 establishments have been inspected so far as part of the special drive. Thirty-seven have been found liable for penalties, while 55 have been directed to rectify shortfalls. A total of 193 samples were collected between July 27 and August 5 alone for testing, officials said.

According to the official records, samples of 137 food products, including ghee, jaggery, pulses, sugar, milk, and fruits, have been sent for examination as part of the drive. More samples will be collected to test possible adulteration attempts.

The latest instructions from the Food Safety department make it clear that new catering establishments operating during the Onam season, along with temporary food festival stalls and payasam distribution outlets, must also obtain the required licence or registration. Similarly, all fruit and vegetable shops, grocery stores, and other establishments engaged in food sales during the Onam season should obtain the food safety licence or registration to avoid penal action.

“Packaged food products sold in the market must carry the prescribed labelling details. Any illegal establishment without a licence can attract a fine of up to ₹10 lakh and imprisonment of up to six months under relevant provisions,” said an official with the checking squad. She also appealed to consumers to report the sale of adulterated or substandard food products and the operation of unlicensed food businesses to the Food Safety department on its toll-free number, 18004251125.

Published - August 10, 2026 08:16 pm IST