To quell the fear of people from eating out, a stringent food safety regime is proposed to come in effect in the State within 3 years. This was declared by the Food Safety Commissioner, Biju Prabhakar.<\/p>\n
Keralites<\/a> have always had a penchant for food. Eating out at restaurants has been a part of their daily routine. But due to the recent disturbing incidents of food poisoning deaths at Thiruvananthapuram, most people have put on hold their excursions to restaurants. Hotels have already lost about 60 percent of their business. Fast food vendors on the street have also been affected, though on a lesser scale. This is because street vendors do not stock food for the next days. But the hygiene factor might turn out to be a problem for them too. To dispel this fear and renew faith in the food outlets a new regime is a must.<\/p>\n As part of the novel system, a grading system will soon be introduced. It will be based on the hygienic practices and standards conformed to by the food joints. Food safety registration and certification was being made mandatory. Street vendors will also have to undergo this process.<\/p>\n All future training programmes, rehabilitation programmes, campaigns and the entire diapason of government initiatives for the field will require this registration. It would only cost Rs 100 for an entire year.<\/p>\n The major objective of this registration is to make sure that all food outlets in the State follow proper hygiene norms and safety regulations. Only such hotels will be allowed to function. The quality of the food served will be ensured and those eateries without the requisite grade will not be permitted to continue business<\/a>.<\/p>\n