Food Safety licence should be taken by owners of temporary eateries and annadhanam organisers for setting up shops and food distribution stalls during Aadi Pooram Car festival of Andal Temple in Srivilliputtur on August 14 and Aadi Amavasai festival at Sundaramahalingam Temple in Watrap on August 12.In a statment, Virudhunagar Collector, N.O. Sukhaputra, said that the employees of catering units involved in cooking of food should also get food safety licence and comply with the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act.A statement said that they could register themselves through the portal https://foscos.fssai.gov.inOrganisers of annadanam should possess laboratory analysis reports, obtained from Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board or laboratories of Department of Public Health, for the water used for cooking and drinking.They should not use water drawn from private borewells or other sources for cooking or drinking without getting prior permission, the statement said.Those who take up cooking and selling of food items like meals, vadai and bajji, should ensure that they buy quality raw materials from licensed suppliers for preparing food under hygienic conditions, especially free from flies and contamination.They should also not use unauthorised artificial food colours. Cooking oil should be used only once and should not be reused. Packaged food items must carry all mandatory label information, like date of manufacture, date of expiry and Food Safety licence number.All workers involved in cooking of food and its sales should be vaccinated against typhoid and jaundice. They should also wear gloves and head gears while handling food, the Collector said.They should not sell any eatables like biscuits or soft drinks and bottled water that have passed their expired date. Similarly, stale food should also not be sold. Workers involved in cleaning dining tables should not allowed to serve food, the statement said.The officials of Food Safety would conduct a special food safety training camp for owners of eateries and annadhanam organisers at Alagapuri at 11 a.m. on August 4.Medical examinations and typhoid vaccination for food handlers would also be taken up at the camp. Published - July 29, 2026 05:32 pm IST