It has made it compulsory for the caterers to register themselves with the corporation so that actions can be taken against them in case of poor quality. It has also made compulsory certificates, shwoing pure water is used for making ice.

RMC medical officer P P Rathod says some cold drink manufacturing units and food stalls have been sealed and notices issued in a few other cases.

However, the corporation is facing a major problem in its fight against food-poisoning because of shortage of staff. As per rule, there should be one food inspector per 50,000 people and, thus, the city should have 10 inspectors. But there are only three.

That is why, the RMC has not been able to conduct surprise raids, especially on `mava' units, roadside food joints and restaurants and larriwallas. And it is the sale of stale or uncovered food and ice made of impure water at roadside larries which often lead to food-poisoning.

Last summer, for example, in one case, some 40 children were affected after eating ice-golas in which water from a ditch was allegedly used. In another incident, some 150 persons took ill after eating `gajjar ka halva', prepared by a local, at a party. The RMC raided the hotel and found that spoiled `mava' was used. In another incident, 21 people were affected by food-poisoning after they ate spoiled food at a marriage party.

So much so that, the RMC finally banned sale of `mava' last summer. Rathod says milk products are the main cause of food poisoning as milk provides ideal environment for breeding of bacteria.A week back, 18 slum children were affected after they ate `mava' picked up from an RMC dustbin. Most of the mava comes from Wakaner and it takes a week or so before it reaches the customer, he adds.