Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) conducted surprise inspections on Friday at 42 tea powder manufacturing units and roadside tea stalls across the city. The checks are part of GHMC’s weekly food safety initiative aimed at curbing food adulteration and ensuring public health.
GHMC urges public caution
Food Safety Officers collected 19 tea samples during the inspection. These have been sent to the State Food Laboratory for detailed analysis. Officials stated that further action would be taken based on the lab results.
During the inspections, teams also educated vendors on hygiene practices, safe storage, and the legal consequences of food adulteration. The GHMC emphasized that such checks will continue regularly across Hyderabad.
In a public advisory, the corporation urged citizens to choose hygienic and certified outlets for tea purchases. Officials shared two simple tests to check tea quality at home:
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Wet cloth test: Rub tea leaves on a wet white cloth. If they are pure, no color will appear. If adulterated, yellow or reddish stains will be visible.
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Water test: Add the tea leaves to plain water. Pure tea gives a mild color, while spurious tea will release a dark red color almost instantly.
Adulterated tea can pose serious health risks over time, including liver and kidney issues, say experts.
GHMC has urged the public to report any suspected cases of adulteration through the GHMC app or by contacting the food safety wing. The initiative is aligned with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines and is part of a broader drive to improve food safety in Hyderabad.