The Kerala government has banned food parcels that will not have “best-before” dates or expiry dates after the numerous food-poisoning cases in the state.
According to State Health Minister Veena George, the label should contain details like the manufacturing date and time, the packing date and time, and the date by which the item should be consumed.
“As per the food safety standard regulations, the dishes under the high-risk hot food segments must be consumed within two hours of cooking.” “When such dishes are being delivered, they should be transported at a 60-degree Celsius temperature,” the minister’s office said.
According to the minister, such dishes may be unsafe to consume if left outside at room temperature for more than two hours. “Food parcels without the safety stickers and the ‘best before’ labels are banned,” the release said. The decision was part of an intensified campaign by the government against restaurants and eateries selling adulterated food.
Recently, a nurse working at the Kottayam medical college died after taking a delicacy from an eatery. In view of such incidents, the Health Department came out with instructions for eateries, like having a licence and registration and maintaining hygiene and cleanliness. The minister had said that a hygiene rating system was being implemented for hotels. According to the Minister, a mobile app will be released this month that will allow customers to upload photos and videos of the food they purchased at a restaurant as well as the atmosphere.