Now Reading: Kerala intensifies Onam food safety checks at border posts
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Kerala intensifies Onam food safety checks at border posts
The Kerala Food Safety Department has launched round-the-clock inspections at five border checkposts ahead of Onam to ensure the quality of food items entering the state, Health Minister K Muraleedharan announced on…
The Kerala Food Safety Department has launched round-the-clock inspections at five border checkposts ahead of Onam to ensure the quality of food items entering the state, Health Minister K Muraleedharan announced on Saturday. Mobile food testing laboratories have been deployed at Aryankavu, Kumily, Walayar, Meenakshipuram and Karali checkposts, where officials are conducting real-time checks on vehicles carrying fruits, vegetables, milk, edible oils, jaggery and other products.
The 'Safe Onam' campaign has also extended inspections to warehouses and e-commerce dark stores, with 80 checks completed so far at facilities of Flipkart, BigBasket and Blinkit. Samples of ghee, jaggery, payasam mix, coconut oil and other festival staples have been sent for lab testing. Officials are checking for expired products, proper storage temperatures, accurate labelling and correct storage. Muraleedharan said strict action will be taken under the Food Safety Act against any violations found. Thiruonam falls on August 26.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Kerala's Onam market sees an annual spike in demand for perishables and packaged foods, making it a peak season for adulteration and expired stock clearance. The department's focus on e-commerce dark stores signals a regulatory shift beyond traditional retail: these unmarked warehouses now handle a large share of festival orders. The five border checkposts are key entry points for goods from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. With Thiruonam on August 26, the next two days will show whether the intensified checks lead to seizure figures or court cases under the Food Safety Act.
Source: thefederal.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
