Death after eating Shawarma: Kerala High Court asks eateries to display exact date, time of preparation of food on packaging

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday ordered the food safety authorities to instruct eateries to display the exact time when food is prepared, as part of measures to ensure that there are no more deaths caused due to the consumption of spoilt Shawarmas (meat-based wraps) [Prasanna EV v State of Kerala & Ors.]..The Court also called for measures to be taken so that the public is made aware that it is necessary to consume such food within safe timelines. .Justice Devan Ramachandran passed the order while dealing with a petition filed by a mother who sought compensation for the death of her 16-year-old daughter who passed away in 2022 after consuming a shawarma. .The Court was informed today by Food Safety Commissioner, Afsana Parveen that there were guidelines already in place concerning the consumption of shawarmas as well as on inspections of eateries selling the food item. These "Shawarma Guidelines" were issued in September 2022, the Court was told. The Court has now called for the strict implementation of these guidelines."Necessary instructions shall also be given to all the eateries to exhibit the date and time of the preparation of the food article on its packaging - whether it be issued across the counter or through parcels; and necessary steps will also be taken to create awareness in the minds of the citizens as to the absolute imperative of confining to such timelines, while consuming it. This shall be overseen by the Food Safety Commissioner, through the Authorities under her command, on a regular basis," the Court ordered. .The Court also directed the Food Safety authorities to ensure that the Shawarma guidelines are made a part of licences given to eateries so that they cannot claim that they were unaware of such guidelines later on.Any violations of these directions should be reported to the Court, the judge added. .Justice Ramachandran opined that the Food Safety Commission's actions, including the issue of the 2022 guidelines and the 'Ban Order' of January 2023, were steps in the right direction. However, the Court added that more action was needed. "The battle is far from being won, because, unless the eateries and consumers are made aware of the pitfalls of consuming ‘Shawarma’, except in the manner as governed by the applicable Regulations, Rules and Circulars, such accidents may continue to happen, as we have seen in the recent past," the Court said..The case will be heard next on December 5..In 2022, a 16-year-old girl named Devananda died and 57 others were hospitalized after consuming shawarma.Following the incident, the High Court also initiated a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the issue of food safety..[Shawarma Food Poisoning] "Prevention better than prosecution:" Kerala High Court calls for enforcement of food safety standards.Devananda’s mother has now approached the High Court seeking compensation of ₹ 1 crore for her daughter's untimely demise. She has alleged that the shawarma shop from where her daughter had eaten was operating without a license and that no inspection was conducted at the said eatery for the last two years. Apart from the award of compensation, the petitioner has also urged the Court to direct the authorities to ensure the strict enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 as well as its regulations, with periodic inspections of food businesses.The Court on Tuesday called for the details of the action taken by the authorities against the eatery in question. These details are to be submitted on affidavit by the next hearing, the Court said. .The petitioner was represented by advocate Aravinds S, Premanand E, MV Aaresan and Karthik V..[Read Order]