Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

‘Maintain vigil against diseases'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Director of Health Services M.K. Jeevan has asked the public to avoid consumption of food kept in the open in public places and on roadsides during the festival season.

He said here on Saturday that packed food items and food items cooked in oil should be bought only after ensuring their quality.

The quality of milk, milk products, meat and fish should be strictly ensured. Dr. Jeevan appealed to the people to drink only boiled water.

He asked people to take precautionary measures against diseases which spread through the air in places were people gathered for festivities. Personal hygiene should be maintained and the surroundings should be kept clean.

He said many types of pesticides and chemicals were found to be used in the production, procurement and distribution centres of fruits and vegetables. Artificial colours and colours in excess of permitted quantities were used in soft drinks and sweet meats. They were harmful to health.

Low quality ice-creams, sweet meats and sweets were often made in unhygienic surroundings. Such items should be avoided.

Oil was found to be used repeatedly for cooking. When oil is heated a number of times, changes take place in its chemical composition and it develops harmful elements. The quality of fried items should therefore be ensured. Meat and fish should be bought only from approved outlets. These should be consumed only after proper cooking.

He asked the people to ensure that packed food items had labels containing the maker's full address, the date of manufacturing and expiry date.

The people should ascertain whether the packets are properly sealed and the food in them is fit for consumption.

Production and consumption of food items in large quantities during festivals lead to possibility of food poisoning. People should be vigilant on such occasions. Large quantities of food items were seen to be cooked in advance and kept in the open. Such food was open to bacterial contamination. Consumption of such food also leads to food poisoning.

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