The task force of the Food Safety Department of Telangana conducted inspections in different parts of Hyderabad recently. They visited the Banjara Hills neighbourhood on May 22, 2024. Expired food items were found at more than one food joint. The team first checked Labonel Fine Baking, where one packet each of "Monalisa Dark/White chocolate Crispearls" were found to be expired. The task force thus got rid of items worth Rs. 4170 on the spot. As per the post, 4 bottles of American Garden apple cider vinegar bottles were seized as they were "found to be imported, but no label of Importer and FSSAI logo/license details" were discovered on the package. Moreover, the Medical Fitness Certificate had expired on March 15, 2024, but had not been renewed after that.
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Expired items were also found at the Baskin Robbins outlet in Banjara Hills. A pack of Horn White Chocolate that had expired on March 12, 2024, was still stored inside the refrigerator. The task force discarded it on the spot. Additionally, the inspection revealed that the Food Handler was unable to present its Medical Fitness Certificates. As per the X post, the operator claimed that they "possess them at Head office.
The task force also visited Manam Chocolate Karkhana in the same locality. However, no issues were found. The Food Business Operator (FBO) "was found to be complying with FSSAI Regulations".
Before this, on May 21, the Food Safety Department of Telangana also inspected restaurants in the Somajiguda area of Hyderabad. At Kritunga - The Palegar's Cuisine, 6 kg of expired methi malai paste and 6 kg of improperly labelled paneer were discarded. Moreover, 156 water bottles of the restaurant's own brand worth Rs. 7,800 were seized, as they contained TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) of only 4 ppm. This reading was taken using a TDS Meter on the spot. As per the X post, the task force sent samples of the water for laboratory analysis. The people handling the food at the establishment were "found without Haircaps, Gloves, Aprons, Medical fitness certificates".
The inspection unearthed other instances of negligence too. The task force discovered that some raw food and semi-cooked items were stored inside the refrigerator without proper labelling and proper covering. Additionally, the "kitchen premises was open to outside environment without proper mesh/ barrier to avoid entry of pests or flies". The dustbins were found open without lids.
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The lack of proper attire for food handlers and the same issue with the kitchen premises were also found at another restaurant: Head Quarters Rest-o-Bar. Moreover, the task force got rid of synthetic food colours that were being used. Unlabelled pizza base, garlic bread and noodles worth Rs.1600 were also discarded. The inspection revealed that there was "improper storage of veg and non-veg food in the refrigerator."
The team went to another eating joint as part of the inspection on May 21. At KFC (Yum Restaurant India Pvt. Ltd.), they found that the true copy of the establishment's Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) License was not prominently displayed anywhere on the premises.
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