Hotels lack freezers

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The recent raids on hotels and eateries in the city by the food safety authorities and the corporation health squad have revealed that only less than 10 per cent of those in the food industry have proper freezer facilities.

Only a very few hotels stick to the stipulation that the freezer should be turned under –18 degree Celsius.

This fact was exposed during a debate on “Hygienic Food Right of The Citizen,” organised by the corporation, on Tuesday.

B. Sasi Kumar, health inspector of the corporation said that many hotels, irrespective of their class, lack proper waste disposal facilities.

“We found that only less than five per cent hotels have covered bins to collect waste, which is mandatory,” he said.

Refuting the claims of the representatives of Kerala Hotel and Restaurants Association (KHRA) that only the Commissionerate of Food Safety officials have the right to raid hotels, Sasi Kumar said:

“Under the Kerala Municipal Act, the D&O trade licence is issued to hotels by the local bodies and the relevant rules under it empower local bodies to conduct inspections in eateries”.

Rather than discussing the measures to be taken to ensure hygiene and quality food, the debate mainly centered on who the responsible authority to conduct the raids, was.

Earlier, inaugurating the debate at the Ernakulam Town Hall, district sessions judge P. Mohandas said that in food adulteration cases, the big manufacturers always go scot free while the small traders get trapped.

The corporation conducted the debate against the background of the recent raids on hotels and the reports on poor quality food being served.

“What’s needed to tackle the issue is a concerted effort, rather than a mere enforcement of law. All recommendations that come out of such healthy debates will help in streamlining the hotel industry,” said Mayor Tony Chammany.

T.K. Ashraf, health standing committee chairman introduced the topic. Advocate Jayasankar who led the debate remarked that a major factor contributing to the issue is the public’s lack of awareness about health issues and society’s changing food habits.

Jose Mohan of KHRA demanded that the raids be conducted in compliance with the FSS (Food Safety and Standards) Act and hotels should not be closed down without giving them a notice period to rectify their shortcomings.

Corporation secretary Ajith B.Patil moderated the debate. Deputy mayor B.Bhadra welcomed the gathering.