Kozhikode eateries hit with >₹16 lakh fines in Operation Thelima crackdown

Food safety officials in Kozhikode district have fined eateries more than ₹16 lakh in the past three months as part of the state‑wide ‘Operation Thelima’ drive. Inspectors targeted hotels, bakeries, wayside stalls and other local outlets, citing unhygienic food preparation, storage of stale ingredients and failure to meet basic hygiene rules. The Food Safety Department has instructed all food handlers to wear gloves and hair caps while preparing or serving food. Teams also found food being cooked in dirty vessels, using corroded equipment and sold in spots where contaminated water pools. Such practices raise the risk of contamination by E. coli and Salmonella, bacteria that can cause serious illness. “A recent inspection at a food establishment near Malabar Christian College in the city found food items that had reportedly been stored for several days. The items included stale curries, spices, spice mixes, fruits, vegetables, bread and chapatis,” said an inspection official. Similar breaches were recorded at the Beach Food Street, where one outlet was ordered to shut down and six received notices. Operation Thelima relies on six mobile squads that patrol the district and take immediate action. Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, penalties range from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh for non‑compliant food, with additional fines for misleading ads, adulteration, lack of licence and, in severe cases, imprisonment for food poisoning or death.

Context

Operation Thelima is a Kerala government initiative aimed at tightening food‑safety monitoring across the state. E. coli and Salmonella are common causes of foodborne disease, often linked to poor storage and handling.