Kerala's Food Safety Department has destroyed 568 litres of used cooking oil and 7,000 fried snacks prepared in unhygienic conditions during a statewide inspection drive under Operation Thelima 2.0, Gold 101.3 FM reported, summarising the department's announcement. FoodManifest also reported the same figures for the Kerala food safety blitz, including the suspension of 32 licences.

Source: Gold 101.3 FM

The inspections began at 3 am on Tuesday, October 27, with 56 teams checking 160 snack-making units across the state, Health and Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan said. The licences of 32 establishments were suspended for violating food safety standards.

Specialised equipment was used to test the quality of cooking oil on the spot. Oil that failed to meet prescribed standards was destroyed, along with the 7,000 fried snacks that had been prepared in unhygienic conditions and stored for distribution, the reports said.

The department issued 23 notices to establishments where violations were detected, directing them to make the necessary corrections. Six cases were recommended for further legal action, while proceedings involving fines were recommended against 80 establishments.

Repeatedly heating cooking oil can degrade its quality and increase harmful chemical compounds; under food safety standards, cooking oil with total polar compounds (TPC) exceeding 25 per cent must not be reused. The department advised food businesses to check oil quality regularly and dispose of unfit oil according to regulations, and the minister said inspections under Operation Thelima 2.0 would continue across Kerala.