Rotten fruits, no licenses: Ameerpet’s juice shops caught with alarming hygiene violations
Food safety task force uncovered alarming hygiene violations at multiple juice centres in Ameerpet, Hyderabad
By Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: Food safety officials found rotten fruits at juice centers in Ameerpet
Hyderabad: A series of inspections by a food safety task force on Wednesday uncovered alarming hygiene violations at multiple juice centres in Ameerpet, raising concerns about public health and compliance with basic safety regulations.
Multiple shops are operating without a valid license
Establishments including A1 Fruit and Juice Shop, KGN Juice Centre, Natural Flavors and others were found to be operating without a valid Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) license or registration.
“Running a food business without a valid FSSAI license is a direct violation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Such establishments are liable to be closed after due notice,” said deputy food controller Vijaya Kumar, speaking to NewsMeter.
Unhygienic conditions were found across the preparation areas
At several locations, including Coconut Juice Bar and Bombay Juice, refrigerators were found to be in severely unhygienic condition, containing rotten fruits, cockroaches and rusted surfaces.
In Natural Flavors, expired syrups like pineapple crush and blackcurrant crush were found stored for use, and unlabelled soda bottles were discovered without any manufacturing or expiry dates.
Lack of documentation and medical fitness checks
Most of the establishments lacked pest control records, water analysis reports and medical fitness certificates for food handlers. At Bombay Juice, food handlers were reportedly found chewing tobacco while preparing food, in addition to not wearing gloves or aprons.
“The absence of these documents means there’s no assurance that the water used is safe or that the food handlers are medically fit, which is a basic requirement in any food business,” Kumar added.
Possible closures and legal action
As per the FSS Act, businesses found operating without proper licenses or failing to meet hygiene standards may be closed after due notice. The task force confirmed that notices will be issued accordingly.
Authorities also appealed to the public to remain vigilant. If consumers notice unhygienic practices or a lack of licenses displayed, they can report directly to the food safety department. This inspection was part of a routine monitoring drive to ensure food safety across the city.
