Hyderabad: On Wednesday, June 11, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) ramped up food safety measures across the city, carrying out surprise inspections at sweet shops.
Following the directives of the GHMC commissioner, the food safety wing has conducted inspections at 60 sweet shops so far, with the drive still ongoing.
Each food safety officer was tasked with inspecting at least five shops within their designated areas. The inspections uncovered numerous violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with the Rules and Regulations of 2011.
According to the GHMC, notices are being issued to sweet shops across Hyderabad for necessary corrections. In instances of severe violations, adjudication cases will be filed with the relevant authorities.
During the raids, several hygiene and sanitation issues were identified at sweet shops in Hyderabad. Common violations included the lack of insect-proof meshes on windows, food handlers not wearing hairnets and using bare hands while preparing food, greasy exhausts, uneven and littered flooring, and open dustbins, all of which contributed to housefly infestations.
In many shops, the walls and ceilings were found to be greasy, flaking, and poorly maintained. The washing areas exhibited signs of water stagnation and unhygienic conditions. Additionally, several shops were found lacking proper pest control records, employee health records, and water analysis reports.
Many sweet shops in Hyderabad were found to be non-compliant with basic labeling requirements, failing to display manufacturing or best-before dates on sweets and savouries for sale. Common issues included poor lighting, unclean utensils, and inadequate drainage systems in kitchens.
The GHMC has strongly urged sweet shop owners to comply with hygiene standards, maintain clean kitchen premises, and ensure proper labeling of food items on display. The civic body has warned that failure to adhere to these regulations could lead to legal action and potential closure of the establishments.
