The district health department on Friday raided 1,708 hotels, restaurants and other eateries in Ernakulam and slapped closure notices on 19 hotels. The hotels were found selling stale food items. Notices were also served to 316 hotels to rectify the defects detected during the raid. 

A canteen run by KSRTC at its depot in Paravoor was among the eateries shut down by the department. Earlier this year, KSRTC’s canteen at Aluva depot was closed due to unhygienic conditions. 

Around 80 hotels, situated in and around Aluva town, downed shutters till afternoon in protest against the health department’s decision to close down four hotels in Aluva. 

The Kerala Hotels and Restaurants Association (KHRA) said the raid was baseless and health officials were ignorant about the Food Safety and Standards Act. 

Health officials said the raid was conducted as part of ensuring hygiene during the Sabarimala pilgrimage season.