The Surat Municipal Corporation has intensified food safety inspections across the city ahead of the festive season, issuing notices to 41 of 89 outlets checked on Tuesday, collecting 34 food samples and imposing fines totalling Rs 1 lakh.
The civic food department launched the drive five days ago and will continue inspections throughout the festive season, according to an SMC official quoted by the Times of India. The campaign is intended to check compliance with prescribed hygiene and food safety standards at food outlets across Surat.
The inspections follow the food-poisoning death of a five-year-old girl after she consumed food from a restaurant, according to the report. The incident has placed increased pressure on health authorities to maintain surveillance of establishments serving food to the public.
During Tuesday’s inspections, officials found shortcomings related to hygiene and infrastructure at 41 establishments. Notices were issued to those outlets, which were directed to correct the deficiencies on priority and take immediate corrective measures.
The civic body also collected 34 food samples from various outlets for laboratory testing. The report did not specify the establishments from which the samples were taken or provide a timeline for the test results. Laboratory testing will determine whether the collected samples meet the prescribed food safety standards.
In addition to issuing notices and collecting samples, officials destroyed 15kg of food that was deemed unfit for consumption. Enforcement action against establishments found violating food safety requirements resulted in fines totalling Rs 1 lakh during the day’s inspections.
The inspection figures indicate that the SMC’s campaign involves multiple forms of enforcement, including outlet inspections, notices, sample collection, destruction of unsafe food and monetary penalties. The action also places responsibility on food businesses to address the deficiencies identified by civic officials.
The SMC has said that intensified checking will continue through the festive season. Its food department has urged food outlets to follow the prescribed guidelines and take corrective action where shortcomings are found. Further inspections and laboratory testing are expected to form part of the ongoing drive.
