A task force set up by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has inspected around 80 hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets in the city. They found that 90% of these establishments were operating under unhygienic conditions. Starting on June 1, fines will be imposed on those found in violation.
Over the past 40 days, task force teams have been inspecting various food establishments across the city. They discovered widespread food adulteration and substandard conditions. Popular eateries like Babylon Bar & Kitchen, Jubilee Hills, and Karachi Bakery in MJ Market were among those found to have irregularities in their operations.
The task force found issues such as kitchens and storerooms infested with insects, expired food items being sold, and improper storage of meat and vegetables. Cases have been filed under different acts, with criminal cases likely to follow pending laboratory reports.
Penalties of up to Rs 3 lakh for poor sanitation and Rs 5 lakh for serving subpar food could be imposed on eateries and restaurants based on lab analysis. Inspections have also been intensified in districts outside of Greater Hyderabad, with more than 15 eateries already inspected in places like Bhadrachalam and Khammam.
During these inspections, officers found issues like fungal-infested ice cream, rotten eggs, and the use of synthetic food colors in food preparation. Lack of proper hygiene practices among food handlers and inadequate pest control measures were also observed at various establishments. Dustbins without lids and open kitchens were among the other violations detected during these inspections.
