Cali's city hall launched food inspection operations led by the Health Secretariat to ensure safety during Holy Week. Over 50 technicians are checking supermarkets and markets, focusing on fish and seafood. Authorities will impose penalties for sanitary violations.
Cali's city hall initiated food control operations ahead of Holy Week to prevent health risks from high-demand items like fish, seafood, and canned goods. The Health Secretariat leads the efforts, deploying over 50 technicians to supermarkets, large stores, and hypermarkets across the city.
Inspections cover markets such as Alameda, Porvenir, La Floresta, Alfonso López, and Siloé, which see heavy shopper traffic. Officials check the cold chain using digital thermometers on refrigerators and freezers, and assess products' smell, texture, and appearance. Initial checks occurred at outlets near Galería Alameda, a hub for fish and seafood vendors.
The city has 461 supermarkets and 247 large stores and hypermarkets, expanding the inspections' scope. Violations of sanitary norms will result in partial or full business suspensions and seizures of risky products to avert poisoning cases.
The Health Secretariat provided buying tips: for fish, look for bright eyes, red or pink gills, mild smell, firm flesh, moist shiny skin with adhered scales, and storage on clean ice. Avoid sticky textures or slime, and check capture dates. Dried fish should have uniform color without spots or strong odors, packaged with sanitary registration. Seafood must lack dark spots, have firm texture, and hard yet flexible shells. Transport in thermal bags is advised.