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A recent survey conducted in Kozhikode, Kerala, has highlighted significant health concerns among food handlers in the region. The study, part of the Sanitation and Fitness Evaluation (SAFE) project by KMCT Medical College, examined 2,000 individuals working in the food industry. 

The findings revealed that 7.4% of participants had a history of jaundice, and 1.4% had previously contracted typhoid. Laboratory tests showed that 7.6% tested positive for *Salmonella typhi*, the bacterium responsible for typhoid fever. Additionally, 6.1% of food handlers suffered from paronychia (nail infections), 3% experienced contact dermatitis, and various others reported work-related cuts and burns. Vaccination coverage among these workers was notably low: only 35.7% had received the tetanus toxoid vaccine, 9.1% were vaccinated against typhoid, and a mere 2.1% had been inoculated for Hepatitis A.

These findings are particularly concerning given the recent increase in food-borne illnesses in the region. Data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme indicates that the incidence of such illnesses rose from 5.3% in 2022 to 10.1% in 2023, with nearly half of these outbreaks traced back to contaminated food sources. The study's authors emphasize the urgent need for improved health monitoring and vaccination policies among food handlers to prevent the further spread of food-borne illnesses.