Telangana Food Safety Department Finds Violations in University Canteen
The Telangana Food Safety Department, known for inspecting hotels and restaurants, has now turned its attention to university canteens. During their recent raids, officials uncovered several food safety violations.
On Tuesday, the task force team inspected the canteen at NALSAR University in Shamirpet. The canteen, run by Sri Sai Ganesh Caterers, was found to have serious hygiene issues, including the presence of rat droppings and cockroach infestations in the storeroom.
Officials discovered 90 kilograms of unlabeled raw rajma, 20 kilograms of muskmelon seeds contaminated with insects, and 30 kilograms of whole green gram without proper labeling such as packing date, expiry date, or batch number. These items were discarded. Additionally, raw materials were improperly stored directly on the floor without pallets, and the floor in the preparation area was slippery, raising safety concerns.
The inspection also revealed other problems. The windows and doors of the preparation and dining areas lacked insect-proof screens. The FSSAI license was registered to a different address instead of the food preparation site. Furthermore, there was no FoSTaC-trained supervisor present, as required for food safety compliance.
Other critical records, such as pest control logs and water analysis reports, were missing. Temperature records for food storage were also not maintained, indicating lapses in quality control.
The findings highlight the importance of maintaining strict hygiene and safety standards in food establishments, especially those catering to students.
