Hyderabad: Food safety officials in Hyderabad have been on their toes ever since several restaurants were found to be violating food safety standards. In the latest case reported from an eatery in Shamshabad, rat faeces were found on the racks and on the floor. This indicated a prevalence of rodents in the restaurant. Earlier an eatery which was raided in Hi-Tech City, police found live cockroach infestation in the storeroom.
Eatery violated other norms apart from food safety
If hygiene was a problem, there were other issues as well. The eatery did not have mandatory FSSAI certificates, sub-standard drinking water quality, and the storage of synthetic food colours, reported NDTV.
In yet another restaurant, officials discovered expired food items being used and seized them. Several food items had labelling violations. Some of the items seized from here included expired red chilli sauce, sweet chilli sauce, coconut milk, rose water, fish masala and thyme. The restaurant was also found to have labelling violations and was penalised for the same.
Officials have raised concerns about the lack of proper food handling by several restaurants and eateries across cities. Many restaurants dis not have proper storing facilities for semi-cooked food, said officials. Many others did not have proper fitness certificates for the cooks and workers at the eatery, they added.
The food safety department said that it would be conducting more inspections in the coming days. It is on a mission to ensure hygienic conditions in food establishments and has warned of strict action against those found to be violating the norms. The department has also urged the public to stay vigilant and report any food safety violations they come across to them immediately.
