Speaking at the meeting, the District Collector said, "The CM declared TN as a plastic free State on January 1, 2019. In line with the announcement, measures have been taken to make Coimbatore a plastic free district."
Coimbatore: A guidance meeting for officials of Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, was held at the District Collectorate here on Saturday.
District Collector K. Rajamani chaired the meeting in which Designated Food and Safety Officer, Dr. Tamilselvan and other officials from the department took part.
Speaking at the meeting, the District Collector said, "The CM declared TN as a plastic free State on January 1, 2019. In line with the announcement, measures have been taken to make Coimbatore a plastic free district."
The Collector insisted the officials of the food and safety department to initiate stern action against those restaurants and shop keepers who continue to use banned plastic products for packaging hot edible food items and retail sale of food items. "Along with a fine, the FSSAI license and registration of the firm or restaurant should be cancelled for violating the law", the Collector told the officials of Food and Safety department.
He informed that despite efforts made by the food safety department to educate the shops to avoid wrapping food in newspapers, some street side shops still engage in such unhealthy practices.
"If the ink used in the newspaper mixes with the food, it can cause severe health issues. Shopkeepers who engage in such acts will be taken to task", warned the Collector.
During the meeting it was also insisted that the government bodies like the local administration, health department and police department should work with the food and safety department to annihilate sale of tobacco products such as pan masala and gutka. All hotels and marriage halls should strive to produce food in accordance with FSSAI standards, the Collector urged.
"All drinking water bottling units should ensure to function only with the BIS-ISI standard. Drinking water supply firms must ensure that the 20 litre capacity cans are maintained hygienically and are changed at regular intervals. Similarly, the cans must be protected from sunlight during storage at retail outlets and during transportation of the cans," he stated.
Sharing guidelines for large institutions, he said, the Collector informed that "The food and safety officials must at regular intervals inspect the food preparation and serving halls in temples under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. The 'prasadam' shops must sell food packets in compliance with the prescribed food safety standards. In order to achieve this, while announcing for tender of 'prasadam' shops, the food and safety department should collect in writing from the shops promising to comply with the food safety regulations."
The Collector also insisted the officials to conduct surprise inspections at all government, private schools and hostels. As a first step towards that, action must be taken to declare government departments such as government hospitals and government medical college hospitals as 'EAT RIGHT CAMPUS'. The Principals of the colleges and government hospitals are directed to strive to implement the rule.
"The public can step up and file complaints or grievances regarding poor quality food, adulterated tea powder, adulterated oil, excessive artificial colouring and banned tobacco products and complaints regarding banned plastic, to the Whatsapp number 94440-42322", informed the District Collector.
District Collector K. Rajamani chaired the meeting in which Designated Food and Safety Officer, Dr. Tamilselvan and other officials from the department took part.
Speaking at the meeting, the District Collector said, "The CM declared TN as a plastic free State on January 1, 2019. In line with the announcement, measures have been taken to make Coimbatore a plastic free district."
The Collector insisted the officials of the food and safety department to initiate stern action against those restaurants and shop keepers who continue to use banned plastic products for packaging hot edible food items and retail sale of food items. "Along with a fine, the FSSAI license and registration of the firm or restaurant should be cancelled for violating the law", the Collector told the officials of Food and Safety department.
He informed that despite efforts made by the food safety department to educate the shops to avoid wrapping food in newspapers, some street side shops still engage in such unhealthy practices.
"If the ink used in the newspaper mixes with the food, it can cause severe health issues. Shopkeepers who engage in such acts will be taken to task", warned the Collector.
During the meeting it was also insisted that the government bodies like the local administration, health department and police department should work with the food and safety department to annihilate sale of tobacco products such as pan masala and gutka. All hotels and marriage halls should strive to produce food in accordance with FSSAI standards, the Collector urged.
"All drinking water bottling units should ensure to function only with the BIS-ISI standard. Drinking water supply firms must ensure that the 20 litre capacity cans are maintained hygienically and are changed at regular intervals. Similarly, the cans must be protected from sunlight during storage at retail outlets and during transportation of the cans," he stated.
Sharing guidelines for large institutions, he said, the Collector informed that "The food and safety officials must at regular intervals inspect the food preparation and serving halls in temples under the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. The 'prasadam' shops must sell food packets in compliance with the prescribed food safety standards. In order to achieve this, while announcing for tender of 'prasadam' shops, the food and safety department should collect in writing from the shops promising to comply with the food safety regulations."
The Collector also insisted the officials to conduct surprise inspections at all government, private schools and hostels. As a first step towards that, action must be taken to declare government departments such as government hospitals and government medical college hospitals as 'EAT RIGHT CAMPUS'. The Principals of the colleges and government hospitals are directed to strive to implement the rule.
"The public can step up and file complaints or grievances regarding poor quality food, adulterated tea powder, adulterated oil, excessive artificial colouring and banned tobacco products and complaints regarding banned plastic, to the Whatsapp number 94440-42322", informed the District Collector.