Special drive to ensure food safety under way in Erode

Cooked food stored in refrigerators for reuse is being destroyed by Food Safety officials in Erode recently. A three-month special drive to ensure hygiene and food safety in food establishments is under way in Erode district.The drive, which began on September 1 and will continue till November 30, is being conducted on the directions of the Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration and under the guidance of District Collector S. Kandasamy.As part of the drive, an awareness programme was conducted for owners of restaurants, hotels, eateries and bakeries on September 1. The owners were advised to adhere to food safety regulations and ensure compliance.Food Safety Officers carried out inspections at restaurants, hotels, dining halls, hostels, canteens, catering establishments, street food outlets, hawkers’ stalls, tea shops and other establishments. A team led by G. Varalakshmi, District Designated Food Safety Officer, along with Food Safety Officers M. Muthukrishnan, S. Kesavaraj and S. Selvan, is conducting inspections in the city, while other officers are carrying out inspections across the district.The administration reminded food business operators that they should possess a valid FSSAI licence or registration certificate. Establishments operating without the mandatory licence will face action under Section 63 of the Food Safety and Standards Act.The operators have also been advised to conduct self-audits using the prescribed inspection checklist and rectify deficiencies. Kitchens, food storage areas, refrigerators and deep freezers, ceilings and walls should be maintained in a clean and hygienic condition. Food handlers should possess medical fitness certificates and undergo FOSTAC (Food Safety Training and Certification) training. They should also wear head covers, gloves, face masks and clean aprons while handling food.The administration has cautioned establishments against reusing cooking oil and instructed them to hand it over to FSSAI-authorised Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO) agencies. The use of artificial colours and banned plastic items and printed paper, including newspapers, for packing food has also been prohibited.The District Collector warned that establishments found violating food safety regulations would be issued Improvement Notices under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Penalties and legal action would follow in cases of violations, and licences could also be cancelled. Published - September 05, 2026 06:40 pm IST