The Karnataka government has launched a significant initiative aimed at enhancing food safety standards across the state, introducing a QR code-based complaint management system for citizens and announcing the formation of citizen-led food safety watch teams at the taluk level.

Health Minister U.T. Khader announced that the new QR codes would be prominently displayed outside hotels, pharmacies, and other food establishments. This system enables consumers to directly report food safety violations and unhygienic conditions to authorities, facilitating immediate action against non-compliant businesses. The initiative is part of a broader crackdown on unhygienic practices, with the government planning to strengthen monitoring and inspections.

Under this new framework, the Health Minister also warned operators of paying guest accommodations and hostels about the heightened scrutiny. Authorities have already issued notices to approximately 60 hotels as part of the initial phase of this intensified enforcement drive. The objective is to ensure that all food served to the public adheres to required safety and hygiene standards.

The expansion of food safety inspections and the introduction of the QR code system come as the state government steps up its efforts to address public health concerns. The citizen-led food safety watch teams, to be established at the taluk level, are expected to play a crucial role in community-level monitoring and reporting, complementing the digital complaint system.

This robust approach follows incidents highlighting the need for stricter oversight. For example, a KFC outlet in Mangaluru was sealed after a customer reported receiving stale and foul-smelling food following an online order. Such instances underscore the importance of accessible complaint mechanisms and stringent enforcement to protect public health.