Hyderabad: Telangana food safety teams exposed alarming hygiene violations during surprise inspections at sweet and spice production units in the erstwhile Nalgonda district. The raids led to the destruction of large quantities of unsafe food.
Acting on orders from the State Food Safety Commissioner, Zonal Officer V Jyothirmayi led the operation. Officials inspected 12 sweet-making centers and 7 spice and retail units using a mobile food testing lab for immediate analysis.
Unhygienic Conditions, Unsafe Practices
Inspectors discovered sweets prepared in kitchens filled with dirt, pests, and greasy residue on walls and ceilings. Workers handled food without gloves or hair caps. They also found spices like turmeric and chilli powder being processed in similar unsanitary conditions.
As a result, authorities issued notices to 17 unit owners for violating food safety norms.
Tainted Food Seized, Destroyed
Teams destroyed 48 kg of sweets laced with harmful coloring agents and other expired items on the spot. Additionally, they seized 90 kg of unlabelled food and 50 kg of insect-infested maida. A total of 27 suspicious samples were sent to the lab for testing.
Officials Promise Stern Action
Zonal Officer Jyothirmayi warned traders that future violations will result in strict legal action. “We will continue surprise raids. Traders must comply with food safety standards or face consequences,” she said.
The department urged all food businesses to follow hygiene protocols to avoid penalties and protect public health.