Mon Dec 16 05:46:03 UTC 2024: ## Telangana Food Safety Task Force Cracks Down on Unhygienic Restaurants Near Hyderabad
**Hyderabad, Telangana, December 13, 2024** – A food safety task force conducted a series of inspections in the Patancheru area near Hyderabad on December 12, 2024, uncovering numerous violations at several restaurants. The inspections, focused on establishments near the Outer Ring Road (ORR) Muthangi, resulted in the identification of significant hygiene and safety issues.
Isthara Babai Hote was cited for possessing expired milk (four days past its expiry date), expired spices (from July 2024), and rotten vegetables. Inspectors also noted the improper use of food coloring, a blocked kitchen drain, uncovered and unlabeled refrigerated food, inadequate insect-proofing, and the improper storage of cleaning materials alongside raw food. The restaurant failed to maintain the FIFO (First In, First Out) inventory system and did not prominently display its FSSAI license or the medical fitness records and FoSTaC training certificates for its food handlers.
The Palace-2 restaurant was found operating without a valid license and lacked a current water analysis report. The use of synthetic food colors was discovered and confiscated. The restaurant also failed to properly label semi-prepared foods, stored vegetarian and non-vegetarian items together, and improperly stored food and cleaning materials. Poor kitchen organization, an unshielded kitchen exit, and a lack of insect-proofing were also noted.
Gulshan Hotel was also operating without a valid license and lacked proper food handler certifications, medical fitness records, and a water analysis report. Inspectors found the kitchen to be highly unhygienic, lacking insect protection and featuring the use of iron knives for cutting food and synthetic food colors. Improper storage of prepared and semi-prepared foods, along with unlabeled stored items and unhygienically stored fried onions, further compounded the violations. Food handlers also lacked the necessary head caps, aprons, and gloves.
These findings follow a previous operation in Medak District where the task force seized and discarded approximately Rs 2.13 lakh worth of substandard snacks. The Telangana Food Safety Commissioner’s office has announced its commitment to ensuring food safety standards are upheld across the state. Further action against the offending establishments is expected.
First Piper 