The hygiene rating scheme introduced by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and implemented under the Eat Right Challenge has covered 97 hotels in Kozhikode district. According to Food Safety department officials, the voluntary hygiene rating system helps eateries adopt the practice of self-compliance and showcase food safety to gain consumers’ trust.

The process is likely to cover 100 more food service establishments within the next six months. Hygiene Rating Audit Agencies (HRAA), approved by the government, will supervise the process. Once a food business obtains a 4+ in hygiene rating, it will be qualified to have the ‘safe place to eat’ tag.

According to Food Safety officials, five schools in the district have so far secured the ‘eat right schools’ status. Besides, efforts are on to create ‘eat right campuses’ and ‘eat right worship centres’. Four temples have secured the ‘eat right place of worship’ status in the district. Fruit markets at Vadakara and Perambra are the two ‘clean markets’ certified under the project. There are also two ‘eat right railway stations’ — Koyilandy and Feroke — on the list.

According to Food Safety officials, six parameters, based on initiatives to promote personal hygiene, healthy eating habits, safe water handling practice, effective complaint redressing mechanism, open kitchen visits, and food donation, would be examined to issue the grading certificates. The details would also be shared with Food Safety officials for further validation and review, they said.

The grading process has become a reality in Kozhikode following a series of intensified checks to expose negligent entrepreneurs in the business. A recent report by Food Safety officials revealed that they had conducted 14,363 inspections during the 2024-25 financial year alone, covering various food businesses in the district. As many as 272 cases had been registered for various violations, they said.