KOCHI: 500 kilograms of rotten chicken was seized despite food safety officials conducting inspections following food poisoning. The rotten meat was seized from a house at Kaipadamugal in Kalamassery. The meat stacked in the freezer was found during an inspection conducted by the food safety department of Kalamassery municipality. The inspection was conducted on the complaint of nearby residents over a foul smell from the house. The inspection started Thursday morning.

The meat was stacked for making shawarma in hotels in Kochi. The stale meat was brought from Tamil Nadu. The house belongs to Junais of Palakkad. 150 kilos of old oil were also seized from here. Migrant hotel employees were staying here.

The officials who inspected the freezer said that a foul smell emanated as soon as they opened the freezer. They said they got information that rotten meat for low prices is arriving for distribution to various hotels across the state. It was in between this the rotten meat was seized from the rented house in Kalamasery. The process to destroy the meat is progressing in the municipality.