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Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Food Safety Department has stepped up round-the-clock inspections at five border checkposts to ensure the quality and safety of food items arriving in the state during the Onam season, Health Minister K Muraleedharan has said.

Mobile food testing laboratories have been deployed at Aryankavu, Kumily, Walayar, Meenakshipuram and Karali checkposts, where officials are conducting real-time checks on vehicles carrying fruits, vegetables, milk and dairy products, edible oils, jaggery and other food items.

The intensified inspections are part of the department’s ‘Safe Onam’ campaign, the minister said in a statement on Saturday, August 22.

The department has also extended inspections to warehouses and e-commerce dark stores as online purchases of food items increase during the festival season.

Special inspections were carried out at warehouses of e-commerce platforms, including Flipkart, BigBasket and Blinkit, with 80 inspections completed so far as part of the Onam special squad, he said.

Samples of ghee, jaggery, payasam (sweet pudding) mix, coconut oil and other commonly used Onam food products were collected and sent for laboratory testing.

Officials are also checking whether expired products are stored at the facilities, whether prescribed storage temperatures are maintained, labelling details are accurate, and food items are stored properly, the minister said.

Strict action will be taken under the Food Safety Act against establishments where violations are detected, Muraleedharan added.

Auspicious Thiruonam falls on August 26 this year.