Stale or bland food, ring it out!

KOCHI: If you have had a bitter experience with the food served in a restaurant or delivered by a caterer, fret not, here comes the solution. The government is going to introduce a toll-free number through which you can register the complaint with food safety officers.The facility is expected to be functional by August. “The government has decided to introduce the toll-free number as per the directions of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India,” said joint food safety commissioner Anil Kumar.“The process is on, and the number would be introduced only after looking into every aspect,” he said. “The type of complaints have also to be looked into. It’s modus operandi is also under discussion,” he added.Once the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 is fully implemented in the state, the toll-free facility would have its impact. “The Act will ensure hygiene and quality of food products. More such reforms will be followed,” chief food inspector of Ernakulam Muhammed Rafi said.Officials in the Department of Health said that this facility would make the whole system vibrant. It would keep tabs on hotels, restaurants and food chains. With this facility people would have a direct link with the enforcement agency which would streamline the whole process, the officials said.“The general public can also inform us if they come across instances of caterers or hoteliers transporting food in an unhygienic manner,” they  said.Further, owners of food outlets can register complaints against the officials through the number. “If they think that any official was targeting them and their shop was sealed purposefully, they can complain against the official concerned,” they said. The facility can also be used for making suggestions as well, they added.