Scan a QR Code to Flag Unsafe Food, Expired Drugs: Karnataka Launches Digital Complaint System
Bengaluru, August 17: Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader said the state has introduced a QR code-based complaint management system that will allow consumers to report food and drug safety grievances by simply scanning a QR code.
According to Khader, the initiative has been developed by the Department of Food Safety and Drugs Administration in coordination with the Centre for e-Governance to make registration, monitoring and redressal of complaints easier and more transparent.
Consumers can use the QR code-based Integrated Public Grievance Redressal System (IPGRS) to bring regulatory and service-related concerns directly to the department’s notice, he said.
Khader said complaints under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act can cover adverse drug reactions, excess pricing or overcharging of medicines, pharmacy service-related grievances, expired drugs and other drug-related regulatory concerns.
On food safety, consumers can report issues involving hotels, restaurants, street-food vendors and other food establishments, including poor hygiene and sanitation, use of artificial colours in food and other food safety or service-related grievances.
The QR-based mechanism is intended to strengthen consumer participation, improve access to regulatory authorities, increase transparency in grievance handling and facilitate timely monitoring and action by officials, Khader said.
The minister said the department has also introduced e-certificate services for D.Pharmacy holders and an e-marks card facility for D.Pharm students as part of three digital initiatives aimed at improving citizen-centric service delivery and regulatory efficiency.
Khader also outlined enforcement activity undertaken by the Food Safety and Drugs Administration across Karnataka. He said inspection and enforcement measures covered hospitals, food establishments, Anganwadi centres, schools and colleges, e-commerce food businesses and other establishments, with action initiated in cases of non-compliance.
According to the details shared by the minister, inspections of three-star and five-star hotels in Bengaluru led to the seizure of food items including 378 kg of mutton/chicken that was allegedly mislabelled or carried no expiry date, 51 kg of mutton/chicken past its expiry date, 203 kg of fish with an excessively long expiry period, 200 kg of vegetarian food stored with non-vegetarian food, 76 kg of rotten or mould-affected vegetables, 45 litres of expired milk/curd, 12 kg of expired bakery products, 67 kg of mislabelled or expired cereals and other items, and 49 litres of used or non-compliant cooking oil.
Khader said the department’s measures are aimed at strengthening food and drug safety enforcement while providing citizens with a more direct digital channel to raise complaints.
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