Severe hygiene lapses, food safety violations found at Secunderabad restaurants

Hyderabad: A special task force team conducted surprise inspections of popular restaurants in Secunderabad and Begumpet on December 18 and uncovered severe hygiene lapses and food safety violations.

The inspections, aimed at ensuring public health and food safety, led to the discovery of expired food items, improper food storage and unsanitary kitchen conditions.

Golden Dragon Restaurant, Parklane in Secunderabad

The inspection at Golden Dragon revealed multiple violations:

• Water analysis reports, employee health records, and FSSAI Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) certificates for staff were not provided.

• Synthetic food colors, suspected of being used in prepared food, were confiscated.

• Expired raw chicken (8 kg) and leg boneless meat (2 kg) were seized.

• Unlabelled noodles (32 kg) were found and confiscated.

• The kitchen floor was slippery, and drains were clogged with food waste.

• Food handlers were working without aprons, hair caps, or gloves.

• Windows lacked insect-proof screens.

• Refrigerators were unhygienic, with unlabeled food items and improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.

Sarvi Restaurant and Bakery, MG Road, Secunderabad

Sarvi Restaurant and Bakery also faced scrutiny for poor hygiene standards:

• No water analysis reports, employee health records, or FoSTaC certificates were provided.

• Rusted containers were used to prepare cakes.

• Unlabelled biscuits, including cashew biscuits and Osmania biscuits, were found without manufacturing or expiry dates.

• The kitchen floor was untidy, and windows lacked insect-proof screens.

• Refrigerators were unhygienic, with rusted lids and missing temperature records.

• Vegetables were stored in unhygienic plastic trays.

• Drains were clogged with food waste, and food handlers lacked proper safety attire such as aprons, hair caps, and gloves.

Chillies Restaurant, Paradise Circle, Begumpet

At Chillies Restaurant, inspectors found several critical issues:

• No water analysis reports, employee health records, or FoSTaC certificates were available.

• Live cockroach infestation was observed in the kitchen.

• Expired food articles were seized.

• Uncovered and unlabelled food items were found in refrigerators, with improper segregation of vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and non-food items.

• Food handlers were not wearing hair caps or gloves.

• The kitchen floor was patchy, and food waste was scattered.

• Drains were clogged with food waste.

Public Health Concerns

These findings highlight the urgent need for restaurants to maintain food safety standards. Customers are advised to stay vigilant and report any suspicious or unhygienic practices to food safety authorities.

Penalty

Failure to comply with food safety regulations and directives issued by a Food Safety Officer will result in a fine of Rs 2 lakh for any food business operator unless a reasonable justification for non-compliance is provided. Non compliance can also lead to severe consequences including fines and temporary closure.