Mysuru: Food Safety officers (FSOs), led by designated officers (DO) of FSSAI, under the Health department, paid surprise visits to 16 eateries and food outlets in Mysuru city. In addition, they also visited 62 more eateries in various taluk headquarters of Mysuru district, up to 5 pm. The food safety initiative was part of the Karnataka-wide, two-day special drive, which concluded on Saturday. The officers checked for food safety and hygiene standards.
The food outlets on Sayyaji Rao Road and around Kukkarhalli Lake on Saturday was inspected by three FSOs, under the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), led by FSSAI DO, Dr S L Ravindra.
Dr Ravindra said, "We have issued notices to five food outlets, including a private canteen meant for those visiting patients on the KR Hospital premises. We have imposed a penalty of Rs 28,000 on four outlets. We have collected three samples of tandoori chicken, butter and tea leaves for testing. We even educated them (on how) to avail license and follow norms of FSSAI Act and its regulations."
He added, "Our officers had issued a notice, for not maintaining hygiene at the canteen on KR Hospital premises, earlier also. They are yet to improve. A water sample at the canteen has been collected for testing. The samples will be sent to a lab for testing. Based on the reports, action will be initiated."
Five FSOs, led by FSSAI DO Dr A N Kantharaju, inspected eateries and food outlets in Hunsur, Periyapatna and KR Nagar towns of Mysuru district on Saturday too.
Dr Kantharaju said that they visited 23 hotels in Hunsur. "We have issued notices to 10 food outlets for not maintaining hygiene. We have imposed a penalty of Rs 20,000 on eight outlets. We collected three samples of chicken and one sample of egg, for testing. In Periyapatna, we visited 21 places. We have issued notices to seven outlets and collected a penalty of Rs 9,000 from them. We collected two chicken samples, one sample each of egg, rusk and mixture for testing. In KR Nagar, we visited 18 places and collected samples of masala powder, coffee powder, maida, tea leaves and mixture for testing. We plan to cover HD Kote and Nanjangud town next week", he said.
Kushalappa Poovaiah Napanda, AGM at a private company, said, "Since Mysuru is a major tourist destination, FSSAI officials should continue such special drives, frequently. They should pay surprise visits to eateries and food outlets regularly, so that they are alert and maintain food safety and hygiene in view of the health of people."
In the wake of the use of synthetic food colours in kebab and gobi manchurian in at least 108 samples across Karnataka, including three in Mysuru district, in the month of July, despite the ban, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao directed the officials to take up this special drive.