Sambalpur, Jan. 12: The municipality is about to initiate licensing and registration of food business operators in the city under the Food Safety and Standard Act.

Roadside eateries, restaurants, fruit sellers, vegetable vendors, grocery shops, meat shops and all who handle food products in the city will have to procure the licence.

'Around 1,500 people are associated with the food business in the city. More than 350 roadside eateries are set up here. They all have to obtain the licence to continue business. We will soon make an announcement and ask the people to apply for the licence as soon as possible,' said Sambalpur municipality food safety officer Rudra Pratap Mandal.

Around 700 food business operators already have valid licence to operate the business in the city. 'The move will help us keep a record of the people handling food products. Besides, this will also generate revenue for the state government,' said Mandal. He added that several food item operators were now applying for the licence.

Mandal said the registration would help them monitor the food quality. 'It will help us monitor whether the operators are abiding by the standard norms of food safety and hygiene,' said Mandal.

The initiative is being taken in view of the recent jaundice outbreak. So far, 2,710 persons have been infected by jaundice in the city. The death toll has reached 20.

On November 28, the district administration had convened a meeting with the owners of restaurants and roadside eateries to make them aware of the food safety and hygiene norms. The administration had asked them to follow the safety norms and cater hygienic food to the consumers.

The authorities have also launched a drive to destroy the unhygienic food in the city. Around 30 quintals of unhygienic food has already been destroyed in the last one and half months.

'Unhygienic food is one of the major reasons behind viral infection. Several restaurants and eateries do not maintain cleanliness. However, if the authorities ask them to obtain the licence, they will certainly develop a sense of hygiene and cater safe food,' said Bhupesh Pradhan, a local resident.