Ernakulam : In a major inspection drive conducted by the food safety department in Kerala, 52 food outlets that supply Shawarma has been shut down in the past one month and more than 100 outlets have been issued notices.
The monsoon drive of the food safety department had led to the closure of nearly one-tenth of the Shawarma outlets in the state after it was found that the hotels were operated under unhealthy premises where it did not meet the necessary safety standards.
Ernakulam witnessed the highest number of closures following the inspections by the food squads in the month of May with 60 shops shut down whereas Kozhikode and Thrissur also witnessing similar trends. Notices were issued to 19 of which six where closed. In Ernakulam a total fine of Rs 1.50 lakh was imposed on the hotel owners after finding violations by the department.
“We have been issuing warnings to these outlets every month after finding violations of food safety. However, most of these hotels continue to operate without maintaining the basic hygiene required. The mayonnaise that is been used in the Shawarma is mostly stale and would be unfit to be used as an ingredient. Still, it has come to our notice that this is been used widely to prepare the dish and also in other cuisines. It was following which we had to cancel their licenses for the time being”, said Sree Kumar, a food safety official in Kasaragod.
However, health officials reveal that even as actions have been taken to shut the Shawarma shops following inspections, more such outlets continues to operate leading to a major challenge
How Shawarma dominated the Kerala food joints?
It was 15 years back the Arabic influence began soaring in Kerala. Malabar cuisine, though it has Persian-Arabic influence, is tweaked with the local ingredients. The dishes are now part of Kerala cuisine. Whereas Shawarma and mandi are foreign dishes that are now making waves in the market. When the state started witnessing an influx of expatriate population from GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries such as UAE and Saudi Arabia, Arabic cuisine also appeared in the market. Salad, lettuce, Shawarma, Kuboos and kabsa had been their staple food for years just like how dosa, appam and egg curry are ours. So the influence of Arabic cuisine increased in our society after the first generation Gulf Malayalis returned home.
Shawarma, meanwhile was a preferred choice for youngsters as a result outlets that serve Shawarmas started mushrooming in many parts of the state.
“Shawarma was initially served in Kozhikode during 2000-2001 period where there were small outlets that began as small outlets that exclusively prepare the dish. There was a huge demand for Shawarma as lot of youngsters were attracted to the taste where you have the mayonnaise mixed with it that adds to the taste”, said Habib Ahmed, owner of a restaurant that has been serving Shawarma for the past 8 years in SM Street, Kozhikode.
“But these days most outlets engage workers who don’t look into the cleanliness aspect. Mayonnaise that is kept in the freezer for days together is been used for its preparation and thus leading to food adulteration”, he said.
There has been at-least 8 instances in the past five years where stale Shawarma had led to the death of people in the state.
In November 2023, the Kerala High Court denied anticipatory bail to the owner of ‘Le Hayath Restaurant’ following allegations of causing a customer’s death due to serving adulterated and inedible ‘Shawarma’.
Kerala has witnessed a number of incidents where outlets selling Shawarma has been identified and asked to shut down after it was found to have been unfit for consumption. Even as the government health squads takes action, more such outlets are opened elsewhere in the cities.
The monsoon drive of the food safety department had led to the closure of nearly one-tenth of the Shawarma outlets in the state after it was found that the hotels were operated under unhealthy premises where it did not meet the necessary safety standards. Kerala States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
