Death by ’shawarma’; health officials raid eateries

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Health department has intensified raids and inspections of hotels and way side eateries across state in the wake of the death of a 21-year old man allegedly due to food poisoning after he ate food bought from a fast food outlet here.


S Mathew Roy purchased some food from the outlet in the city before he boarded a bus to Bangalore on July 10 and died on July 16 in his room in Banglore, police said.


Incidentally, on July 10 Shobi Thilkan, who is the son of thespian actor Thilakan, and his family also had 'shawarmas' from the same restaurant and they too fell ill and had to be admitted to hospital.


According to official sources, the Food Security Commissioner has ordered closure of the eatery and notice issued to its owners asking as to why a criminal case should not be registered against them.


Meanwhile, the health squads had been pressed into action to search hotels and seize stale foods to be sent for lab examination.


As many as six hotels in the city had been ordered to be closed after the food supplied by them was found to be unhygienic. They have been warned that their licences would be withdrawn unless they took effective steps to conform to the norms laid down by the health department.


Health department had also alerted officials in all other cities and towns in the state to be vigilant and take stern action hotels that supply unhealthy food and preparing them in unhygienic surroundings, sources said.