As part of the heightened vigil in view of the Onam season, the Food Safety department conducted 862 inspections between July 27, 2026, and August 21, 2026. As many as 22 establishments were issued closure notices citing various violations. This was apart from notices being served on 220 food businesses. A total of 490 food samples were collected during the inspections, while reports in seven cases were forwarded for legal action. The special squads urged people to exercise greater caution as the production, distribution and sale of food items witness a sudden increase during the Onam season. Published - August 22, 2026 06:52 pm IST