T’puram: Health minister K Muraleedharan on Thursday said the state govt would not allow any compromise on food safety and warned that inspections and legal action against violators would be intensified, particularly in the wake of recent food poisoning incidents.Launching the state-level training programme for food business operators and officially announcing the ‘Youth for Food Safety’ initiative at Food Safety Bhavan in Thycaud, Thiruvananthapuram, the minister said it was the responsibility of every food business operator to prepare and serve safe, hygienic and quality food.He said the ‘Youth for Food Safety’ initiative aims to strengthen the participation of young people and food business operators in ensuring food safety and spreading awareness across society.Muraleedharan said unhygienic restaurants and food production units posed a serious threat to public health. Poor sanitation, use of contaminated water and unsafe cooking practices could lead to the spread of diseases such as Shigella, he said, adding that food safety standards, including serving only boiled drinking water, should be strictly followed.Referring to the recent food poisoning reported after people consumed mandi in Ernakulam, the minister said such incidents would be treated seriously. He said inspections and follow-up action against establishments violating food safety norms would be strengthened and checks at hotels and other food establishments would be expanded.The minister said all food establishments — from roadside eateries to star hotels — must comply with food safety standards. With food production and catering activities expected to increase during the Onam season, he said caterers and those preparing sadya should ensure hygiene while preparing, packing and distributing food. He also warned against the use of poor-quality fish, meat and other food items, saying they posed serious health risks.Muraleedharan said the govt would continue its supportive approach towards law-abiding food business operators while taking strict action against violators. He also said the entire hospitality sector should not be portrayed negatively based on a few isolated incidents.During the function, the minister unveiled the logo of the training programme and released the poster for the ‘Youth for Food Safety’ campaign.The food safety department is organizing the statewide ‘Eat Right Kerala Safe Onam 2026’ awareness and training campaign to ensure strict compliance with food safety standards as food production and distribution activities increase during the Onam season. The department has also formed a volunteer force under the ‘Youth for Food Safety’ initiative, comprising trained youngsters, to promote healthy eating habits and create awareness about food safety, particularly among the youth amid growing consumption of junk food.
