Date:06/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/06/stories/2007050615070100.htm

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Corporation plans `food handler' licences

Kannal Achuthan

To improve food safety, curb unhygienic handling of food in hotels Workers in roadside shops and small mobile eateries would not be required to obtain licences

CHENNAI: Waiters, cooks and food suppliers to hotels and restaurants in the city will soon have to obtain licences to continue to work.

The Chennai Corporation plans to issue `food handler licences' in a three-stage process to improve food safety and curb unhygienic handling of food.

"Introducing licences for food handlers is an initiative that is the first of its kind in the country. The food handlers will be given training to prevent contamination of food they make and serve," said Chennai Corporation Health Officer P. Kuganantham.

At present, food handlers are given a fitness certificate after they undergo a medical check-up for communicable diseases.

The fitness certificates were introduced about ten years ago after a Corporation health department survey showed that 60 per cent of waiters and cooks in hotels carried germs of communicable diseases. Dr. Kuganantham said that licences would be more effective than medical certificates, as training was mandatory before the permit is awarded.

As a first step, doctors at the Corporation's laboratories and the Communicable Diseases Hospital would perform a general examination to identify infections.

ECG, X-ray, urine, blood sugar and cholesterol tests would be conducted.

In the second stage, food handlers would be vaccinated, given de-worming tablets and offered treatment for any infection. Training would be offered in storing, preparing and serving food, personal hygiene, hand washing and pest control. The health services, training and licence would be offered at a cost of Rs. 500 per food handler. Licences would have to be renewed every year.

However, workers in roadside shops and small mobile eateries would not be required to obtain licences. Once the licensing system is in place, the Corporation will revoke trade permits of hotels and restaurants if their food handlers do not have licences.