Health Minister Khader said that within a week of its launch, over 400 complaints had been filed by people using the QR code-based Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System about the sale of contaminated food articles at different outlets in the State.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
A meeting of Health Ministers of the southern States is proposed in Bengaluru shortly to iron out anomalies in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 1954, said Health and Family Welfare Minister U.T. Khader in Mangaluru on Saturday.Talking to reporters, Mr. Khader said a series of raids was being carried out at well-known hotels, eateries, fruit stalls, and roadside food outlets to check the quality of food and impose fines on those selling contaminated and junk food. In one such raid on a well-known mart, officials found that the chocolate sold by a multinational company in India had a high quantity of sugar, while the sugar quantity was less in the same chocolate sold in other parts of the world.“Officials told me that the multinational brand had permission from the Central government to sell chocolate with a high quantity of sugar in India,” said Mr. Khader, adding that this is among the anomalies that will be discussed in the meeting of Health Ministers of the southern States proposed in Bengaluru. The southern states will then take up the issue with the Union government and seek amendments, he said.400 complaintsMr. Khader said that within a week of its launch, over 400 complaints had been filed by people using the QR code-based Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System about the sale of contaminated food articles at different outlets in the State. Officials have raided these places, including a few in Mangaluru, and notices have been issued. Where the units have been found at fault, fines have been imposed. More raids on the use of drugs to ripen bananas will be held. “We want the cooperation of civil society in our drive to make food safe for consumption,” he said.The Minister said talks were on with firms that will take used cooking oil from food outlets and convert it into biofuel. He said he was working on having a team of senior citizens, including retired government officials, in each district for checking food articles.A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to look into the sale of fake emergency medicines. The investigation will not just be restricted to Karnataka, but will also extend to other parts of the country to unearth the racket. Though preliminary investigation has revealed that these fake drugs have not been sold at Janaushadhi outlets, the actual spread of these fake drugs will be revealed in the due course, Mr. Khader said. Published - August 22, 2026 07:24 pm IST
