Food safety norms must extend beyond hotels

Sir,

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) lays down standards and guidelines relating to food safety and provides the framework for their enforcement.

The Food Safety and Drug Administration, Government of Karnataka, is commendably undertaking inspections of hotels and restaurants to ensure compliance with food-safety and hygiene requirements.

Such vigilance is welcome and should, in my view, also be extended regularly to hospital canteens, school and college canteens, hostels, institutional kitchens and other mass-feeding facilities, where food is prepared and served in large quantities.

Hospital canteens, in particular, deserve greater attention as they serve patients, attendants and healthcare workers, many of whom may be vulnerable to food-borne infections. Similarly, in mass-feeding facilities, where responsibilities may be delegated or change from time to time, there should be clear accountability and continuity in food-safety practices.

Regular inspections, hygiene checks, safe food handling and proper kitchen maintenance should be part of routine monitoring, rather than being undertaken only after complaints or incidents. Food safety should be a continuous responsibility, irrespective of where the food is prepared or served. Extending regular inspections to all such high-volume food-serving facilities would greatly strengthen public health protection.

—M.R. Pradeep

Mysuru 6.9.2026