A major ice cream factory in Kerala has been temporarily shut down after a video surfaced showing an employee licking ice cream sticks before packing them.

The video, believed to have been filmed at the factory, shows an employee dipping his fingers into a container of ice cream sticks and then licking them before placing them in a packaging machine. The incident sparked widespread condemnation and calls for stricter regulations in the food industry.

Ice Me, a store in Ambalapara, was embroiled in controversy after Sajith, a resident of Mangad, filmed an employee licking ice cream sticks intended for packaging. Sajith, who had gone to buy ice cream, recorded the incident and posted the video online. The images sparked widespread outrage and led local authorities to take action.

Following public outcry, the Kerala Food Safety and Standards Authority (KFSSA) took immediate action and ordered the closure of the factory. The authorities have also opened an investigation to determine the extent of the contamination and take appropriate legal action against those responsible.

Amid growing concerns over diseases like yellow fever, the Health Ministry has stepped up inspections of food vendors in the region. Recently, old and contaminated ice supplies were seized and obsolete refrigerators removed from several stores. Authorities also carried out checks along the Kozhikode waterfront, a popular spot for food vendors.