Food Safety Officials in Kerala Impose Stringent Rules on Fruits and Vegetable Vendors

Fruits and vegetable vendors in Kerala, India have been asked to secure food safety licence or registration within a month by the Food safety commissioner.

V.S. Sivakumar, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Health Minister said that food safety officials have been directed to ensure issuance of mandatory licenses or documents of registration prescribed under food safety and quality standards to all vegetable and fruit traders in the state.

District food safety offices will organize registration drives from June 15 in an effort to cover all traders under the proposal. The government is also proposing a ban, from July 15, on entry of vehicles transporting vegetables and fruits from other states without the mandatory documents.

Sivakumar has also called to check for noodles distribution in the state after the ban. The food safety commissioner was asked to submit reports on the inspections at restaurants to prevent the use of harmful flavor enhancers like Monosodium Glutamate on a daily basis.

The health secretary was asked to conduct a discussion with the High Court registrar general for the speedy settlement of food poisoning cases.

Source: Medindia