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The Karnataka government on Monday, August 17 launched a QR code-based Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System (IPGRS) to enable citizens to report and track complaints related to food and drug safety violations.
Health Minister UT Khader, who unveiled the system, said the IPGRS was the first such initiative in India and had been integrated with the government’s Centre for E-Governance.
Under the system, QR codes will be displayed at eateries and drug stores. Citizens can scan the codes to lodge complaints about unhygienic food outlets, expired or overpriced medicines, adverse drug reactions and the use of artificial food colours.
“The QR code must be displayed at all the eateries and drug stores. Citizens can scan and register their complaints, if any,” Khader said.
The launch comes amid a series of inspections by the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) across Karnataka, during which officials seized expired, contaminated and otherwise non-compliant food products.
Khader said the FSDA would continue inspections and urged the public to support efforts to improve food hygiene. The government is also planning to involve experienced people and volunteers, particularly those above 60, in reporting food and drug safety violations.
According to Health Department officials, the FSDA collected 1,860 food samples from 629 Backward Classes hostels and 556 samples from 331 Social Welfare Department hostels.
Officials also inspected 889 food establishments across 186 bus stations. Notices were issued to 206 establishments, with fines totalling Rs 55,000.
At 603 Anganwadi centres, 549 food samples were collected for laboratory testing. The department also provided free registration to 1,257 centres, taking the total number of registered Anganwadi centres to 25,626.
As many as 11,370 food business operators have been trained under the Food Safety Training and Certification programme, officials said.
Five inspection teams also checked 99 dhabas along major highways and imposed fines totalling Rs 3.67 lakh for violations.
Following complaints about unhygienic practices and the use of artificial colours in shawarma and kebabs, officials collected 61 samples. Nine shawarma samples and one kebab sample were found to be unsafe, and legal action is being initiated, officials said.
The department also inspected 236 e-commerce food warehouses and initiated proceedings against 44 for violations. Eight warehouses were fined a total of Rs 1.97 lakh for unhygienic conditions.
Officials tested 25 samples of milk and milk products entering Karnataka from Tamil Nadu, of which one was found to be substandard.
Food safety teams also collected 53 suspicious samples from establishments in and around 124 schools and colleges, along with 36 egg mayonnaise samples from across the state.
In Bengaluru Urban, 30 inspection teams inspected more than 60 three- and five-star hotels, eight warehouses and four international restaurants. Notices were issued to 30 food business operators for violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act and Rules.
The inspections also resulted in the seizure of several expired, mislabelled and non-compliant food products.
These included 429 kg of mutton and chicken, 203 kg of fish, 200 kg of vegetarian food stored with non-vegetarian food, 76 kg of rotten or mouldy vegetables, 45 litres of expired milk and curd, and 12 kg of expired bakery products.
Officials also seized 67 kg of mislabelled or expired cereals and other food products, as well as 49 litres of used or non-compliant cooking oil.