|
|
|
You can get e-magazine links on WhatsApp. Click here
|
|
|
|
|
|
'Eat Right Keralam' launched ahead of Onam festival
|
|
Wednesday, 05 August, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
|
|
Peethaambaran Kunnathoor, Chennai
|
In a major effort to guarantee food safety across the state ahead of the upcoming Onam festival, the Food Safety Department, operating under the Health and Family Welfare Department of the Kerala Government, has launched a comprehensive statewide awareness and enforcement campaign.
Titled 'Eat Right Keralam - Safe Onam 2026,' the state-level program was inaugurated by Health Minister K. Muraleedharan. As part of this initiative, specialized training and awareness workshops are being organized across all districts to ensure strict adherence to food safety norms during the peak festive season.
As part of the district-level rollout, Ernakulam district office of the FSSAI held its awareness session on July 31 at the KMC Hall at Marine Drive. The session ran from 10 AM to 2 PM and was formally inaugurated by Ernakulam MLA , T. J. Vinod.
Speaking on the occasion, the local legislator highlighted the significance of maintaining non-negotiable food standards during festive periods, when consumer demand for prepared delicacies and packaged goods reaches its peak. The event gathered key stakeholders across the supply chain, including active members of the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association, the Bakers Association, and multiple catering associations.
Welcoming the gathering, Ernakulam Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety, Jose Lawrence, set the agenda for the day, while Ernakulam Zone Food Safety Deputy Commissioner, Randeep C. R., presided over the formal function. Key leadership figures, including V. T. Hariharan (District president, KHRA), Sivadas P. S. (District general secretary, Bakers Association), Dinesh Appu (District president, Confederation of All Kerala Caterers Association), and Jibi Peter (Treasurer, All Kerala Caterers Association), expressed their support for the safety drive.
Technical sessions at the Ernakulam workshop were led by Dr. Rani Chacko, Ernakulam Circle Food Safety Officer. The session focused on essential practices for hygienic food production, proper storage, safe distribution mechanisms, and the strict guidelines surrounding permissible limits and usage of food additives. Similar training workshops are being conducted in all districts to sensitize food business operators (FBOs) statewide on hygiene practices prior to Onam.
Sharing details with FnBNews, department sources confirmed that this awareness campaign is merely the opening phase of a sustained enforcement drive that will continue up to the Onam festival. Officials emphasized that strict field inspections and round-the-clock monitoring will remain active throughout the festive period to ensure Section 4 of the FSSAI. The department aims to plug vulnerabilities across supply chains as large volumes of ready-to-eat products and festival sweets flood the market.
Special focus is being placed on high-risk sectors such as catering agencies and outdoor event organizers, where large-scale cooking takes place during Onam celebrations. Food safety squads will maintain strict vigilance over catering operations, temporary stalls, and cloud kitchens to prevent contamination or the use of substandard ingredients.
In addition, imported food products and goods arriving from neighbouring states are being subjected to rigorous quality checks at border checkpoints and local distribution hubs. Department officials reiterated that non-compliance, adulteration, or illegal chemical additions will attract severe legal action as Kerala prepares for a safe and healthy Onam celebration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|