Key Development

Telangana Food Safety Taskforce launched a major statewide enforcement drive on Saturday, November 1, inspecting 12 highway food outlets along three key national highways — NH-65 (Hyderabad–Vijayawada), NH-163 (Warangal–Hyderabad), and NH-44 (Kurnool–Hyderabad). The inspections covered eateries in Sangareddy, Warangal, and Jogulamba Gadwal districts to assess compliance with food safety and hygiene standards.

Severe Violations at The Palace Hotel, Rudraram

Officials uncovered grave violations at The Hotel NH-9 (The Palace Hotel) in Rudraram, Sangareddy. Inspectors found unhygienic kitchen conditions, pest and rodent infestations, uncovered and unlabelled food items, clogged drainage, and improper segregation of vegetarian and non-vegetarian sections. They also suspected the use of synthetic food colours.

Authorities immediately suspended the hotel’s licence under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and discarded 107.5 kilograms of unsafe food — including prawns, fish, chicken, paneer, and gobi fry — on the spot. The Food Safety Commissioner’s office announced on X that the establishment would remain closed until further orders from the competent authority.

Multiple Highway Restaurants Found Violating Standards

Inspections also revealed violations at several other outlets, including Taj Palace Hotel, Athidhi 44 Drive-In, and Lepakshi Restaurants on NH-44, as well as Minerva, Vivera, Utsav, and Orissa Dhaba on NH-65. Common lapses included poor kitchen hygiene, unlabelled containers, expired ingredients, and the reuse of cooking oil. Officials lifted seven food samples and issued eight improvement notices during the drive.

Unsafe Food Discarded Across Outlets

• Utsav Restaurant, Pedda Kaparathi (NH-65, Chityala Mandal):
  Inspectors discarded 16 kg of stored meat and seafood, 3 kg of butter, 20 kg of red gravy, 10 kg of Manchurian, 3 kg of chicken lollipops, and 15 kg of artificially coloured food.
• Athidhi Restaurant, Koyalagudem (NH-65, Choutuppal):
  Officials destroyed 8 kg of spoiled chicken and meat, 5 kg of expired dry fruits, 10 litres of spoiled sauces, 12 kg of other spoiled food, and 1.5 kg of synthetic colours.
• Sangam Hotel, Koyalagudem (NH-65, Choutuppal):
  Inspectors found 2 kg of synthetic food colours and discarded 8 kg of cooked food stored without use-by labels.
• The Fort Food Court (NH-163):
  Authorities discarded 6 kg of coloured prawns, corn, and chicken, and seized 15 kg of red gram dal, 9 kg of turmeric, 18 packets of noodles, and 12 kg of tamarind for defective labelling.
• Minerva Coffee Shop & Blue Fox Restaurant (NH-163):
  Officials discarded 1 kg of synthetic colours and 5 kg of products with label defects.
• Hotel Vivera (NH-163):
  Inspectors destroyed 12 litres of expired cool drinks and 2 kg of long-stored gravy.
• Taj Palace Restaurant (NH-44, Gadwal):
  Officials discarded 8 kg of stale raw chicken and 3 kg of boiled vegetables. The restaurant failed to produce purchase bills and was found operating without a valid licence.
• Athidhi Restaurant (NH-44, Gadwal):
  Inspectors discarded stale biryani pieces and cooked chicken stored in the refrigerator.

State Intensifies Efforts to Ensure Food Safety on Highways

The Food Safety Taskforce stated that the enforcement drive aimed to ensure that highway eateries maintain basic hygiene, proper labelling, and safe food handling practices. Officials warned that the drive would continue statewide to protect public health and enforce strict compliance with food safety laws.

Source: The Hindu