GVMC launches ‘Eat Right’ campaign; SHE teams to ensure compliance with safety norms in Vizag

In a major step towards protecting public health, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has launched the ‘Eat Right Campaign’.

As part of this initiative, the civic body has formed 16 dedicated Sanitation & Health Enforcement (SHE) teams, which will conduct inspections and ensure compliance with the food safety standards.

Recently, many instances of hotels, restaurants, bakeries, and street food outlets in the city failing to maintain proper food quality and hygiene have come to light. Furthermore, the use of frozen foods, harmful chemicals in certain food items increases the risk of cancer, heart diseases, and kidney-related ailments. To curb such malpractices, the SHE Teams have been formed.

The GVMC authorities have allotted two SHE teams for each zone.

“Each SHE team will comprise an Assistant Medical Officer, a Sanitation Supervisor, a Food Inspector, a Secretariat Sanitary Secretary, and a woman police officer from the Secretariat,” said GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg.

He said that these teams would conduct inspections at a minimum of two to three eateries every day. They would examine the raw ingredients and prepared foods for quality and check kitchen hygiene.

In addition, as part of environmental protection measures, they will also enforce the ongoing ban on single-use plastic, ensuring that prohibited plastic materials are not used, Mr. Garg said.

The GVMC authorities said that initially, the teams would focus on creating awareness among food handlers about quality and hygiene. However, repeated violations will lead to the imposition of fines.

“For now, two teams have been deployed per zone. However, the number will be increased to 32 teams if necessary, with four teams per zone,” Mr. Garg said and appealed to the food business operators to ensure maintaining a clean, healthy, and plastic-free city.

Last week, the Food Safety wing of the GVMC, along with the Legal Metrology Department, conducted raids on hotels, restaurants, bakeries and sweet shops at various places. Cases were registered against 35 eateries on charges of using chemicals, expired products, serving stale food to consumers.