If you’re eating out, the Karnataka government wants you to look beyond the ambience and pay more attention to what’s happening inside the kitchen. Following a month-long inspection drive that found several food safety and hygiene lapses, Health and Family Welfare Minister UT Khader has directed hotels and restaurants across the state to step up their food safety measures. Scroll on to know more about this.
Hotels & Restaurants Asked To Tighten Food Safety In Karnataka
According to the Deccan Herald, the food safety directions came during a consultative meeting with representatives of the Karnataka State Hotel Association and leading hotels at Arogya Soudha on August 28. The government said the measures are aimed at ensuring safer food for the lakhs of people who depend on hotels and restaurants every day.
One of the key directions is for hotels and restaurants to consider installing CCTV cameras in their kitchens to improve transparency and strengthen customer confidence. The government has also asked establishments to create scientifically designed storage rooms to ensure food items and ingredients are stored hygienically.
Hotels have also been instructed to ensure that manufacturing and expiry dates are clearly mentioned on all food products and ingredients used in food preparation.
Minister UT Khader stressed the use of quality ingredients and called for restrictions on the use of chemicals in food preparation, citing concerns over their potential impact on public health.
Customers Could Soon Rate Food Hygiene Via QR Codes
It’s not just kitchens and storage areas that are under the scanner. Hotel managements have been asked to train their staff in food safety, hygiene and safe food-handling practices, including clearly outlining the dos and don’ts to follow while preparing and serving food.
The move comes after food safety officials conducted intensive inspections across hotels and restaurants in Karnataka over the past month and detected several deficiencies and violations.
There could also be a new way for customers to share their experience. The hotel association has proposed strengthening the existing QR code-based complaint system, allowing customers to rate a restaurant or hotel’s hygiene and food quality as ‘Good’, ‘Average’ or ‘Poor’.
Also Read: No More 4 AM Biryani In Bengaluru? Police Tighten Rules Around City’s Famous Food Run
Karnataka has made it clear that while it will listen to concerns raised by the hotel industry, there will be no compromise on cleanliness, hygiene and food quality.
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FAQs
Why is Karnataka tightening food safety rules for hotels and restaurants?
The Karnataka government has intensified food safety checks after inspections found hygiene and food-handling lapses at several establishments.
Will hotels in Karnataka have to install CCTV cameras in kitchens?
The government has asked establishments to consider installing CCTV cameras in kitchens to improve transparency and food safety monitoring.
Can customers report hygiene issues at hotels and restaurants?
A proposal has been made to strengthen the existing QR-code-based complaint system, through which customers could rate food quality and hygiene as ‘Good’, ‘Average’ or ‘Poor’.
